August Wilson

The only African American playwright to win the Pulitzer Prize twice, Wilson has yet to receive the critical attention that he merits. With 12 original essays, this volume provides a thorough introduction to his body of work. It investigates such thematic, artistic and ideological concerns as his use of the South and the black human body as metaphors; his collaboration with Lloyd Richards; the influence of the blues, Baraka, Bearden, Borges and Fugard on his work; his creative method; and his treatment of African American family life. Highlights of the collection are the contributions from noted scholars and a recent interview with the playwright himself.