The Cambridge companion to August Wilson / edited by Christopher Bigsby.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Bigsby, C. W. E.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Wilson, August--Criticism and interpretation.

Wilson, August.

Historical drama, American--History and criticism.

Historical drama, American.

African Americans in literature.

Criticism and interpretation.

Physical Description:

ix, 227 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2007.

Summary:

One of America's most powerful and original dramatists, August Wilson offered an alternative history of the twentieth century, as seen from the perspective of black Americans. He celebrated the lives of those seemingly pushed to the margins of national life, but who were simultaneously protagonists of their own drama and evidence of a vital and compelling community. This Companion considers Wilson's life and career, and dedicates individual chapters to each play in his ten-play cycle, which are ordered chronologically, demonstrating Wilson's notion of an unfolding history of the twentieth century.

Contents:

August Wilson: the ground on which he stood / Christopher Bigsby

Been here and gone / John Lahr

August Wilson's relationship to Black theatre: community, aesthetics, history and race / Mary L. Bogumil

Music and mythology in August Wilson's plays / Kim Pereira

Gem of the ocean and the redemptive power of history / Harry J. Elam, Jr.

Joe Turner's come and gone / Samuel A. Hay

Ma Rainey's black bottom: cutting the historical record, dramatizing a blues CD / Alan Nadel

A piano and its history: family and transcending family / Felicia Hardison Londré

The tragedy of Seven guitars / Brenda Murphy

Safe at home?: August Wilson's Fences / Matthew Roudané

Two trains running: blood on the tracks / Stephen Bottoms

Jitney, folklore and responsibility / David Krasner

King Hedley II: in the midst of all this death / Joan Herrington

Radio golf: the courage of his convictions: survival, success and sprituality / Margaret Booker

Critics on August Wilson / David K. Sauer and Janice A. Sauer

An interview with August Wilson / Christopher Bigsby.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780521866064

0521866065

9780521685061

0521685060

OCLC:

154706333

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description