Overview

This is an assessment of the contributions of the award-winning African American dramatist. August Wilson counts among America's greatest playwrights - having garnered commercial success on Broadway and critical acclaim including New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Tony Awards, and two Pulitzer Prizes. Mary L. Bogumil provides a comprehensive view of the thematic structure of Wilson's plays, the placement of his work within the context of American drama, and the distinctively African American experiences and traditions that he dramatizes. Bogumil argues that Wilson gives voice to marginalized African Americans who have been promised a stake in the American dream but find their access blocked. She maintains that Wilson wishes not only to portray the predicaments of African American life but also to shed light on the atavistic connection African Americans have to their African ancestors.

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9781570038792

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Reviews

Bogumil's discussion of such topics as Wilson's use of symbolism, the blues, and African American history is clearly conveyed. A good beginning for study of Wilson, especially for undergraduates. - Choice

Bogumil's discussion of such topics as Wilson's use of symbolism, the blues, and African American history is clearly conveyed. A good beginning for study of Wilson. - Choice

Author Information

Mary L. Bogumil is an associate professor of English at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Her previous scholarship on African American literature has appeared in College English, Theatre Journal, and the American Journal of Semiotics.

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