Brecht's masterpiece is a staple of Theatre Studies courses and a perfect exemplar of Brechtian theatrical style and technique. A trusted translation plus Brecht's own notes on the play and all the important textual variants makes this the most complete scholarly edition. Brecht is one of the most important dramatists of the twentieth century whose work is studied on every Theatre Studies course. The play is a key text for Theatre Studies and a set text in the UK for AS and A-Level students in 2010.

In this chronicle of the European Thirty Years War and taking place between the years 1624 and 1636, Mother Courage follows the armies back and forth across Europe, selling provisions and liquor from her canteen wagon to whomever she can. One by one she loses her children to the war but will not part with her livelihood - the wagon. The Berlin production of 1949, with Helene Weigel as Mother Courage, marked the foundation of the Berliner Ensemble. Considered by many to be one of the greatest anti-war plays ever written and Brecht's masterpiece, the play is a powerful example of Epic Theatre and Brecht's use of alienation effect to focus attention not on individual characters but on the issues of the play. This edition published in Methuen Drama's Modern Classics series offers a full introduction as well as Brecht's own notes and textual variants, setting it apart from all other editions available in the English language. The play is presented in John Willett's trusted translation. 'One of the greatest poets and dramatists of our century' (Observer).