What is it that makes soap operas so compelling, that attracts a worldwide audience - students, homemakers, and professionals alike - larger than that of any other entertainment form? Who created soaps, and why have they lasted so long? These and other questions about this astonishingly long-lasting, hugely popular phenomenon of modern culture are answered in this groundbreaking survey of soaps, from their infant days in radio to their contemporary global impact on television.

Photographs in color and black and white of all the major soap opera shows, their creators, and their stars illustrate the essays. A lively, picture-filled section called The Classic Soap Operas features the series that made a difference in the development of the genre, recapping their histories and noting their key themes and innovations.

As a special feature for this book, The Museum of Television & Radio conducted interviews with leading writers, producers, actors, and directors of soap operas. Dozens of revealing quotes from these interviews appear throughout the book - personal and professional comments by men and women who make their living in the field.