Cousins: A Memoir [Hardcover]

Athol Fugard (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1559361328 | ISBN-13: 978-1559361323 | Publication Date: April 1, 1997 | Edition: First edition.

A remarkable memoir of the author's coming of age as a writer.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In this poignant memoir, noted South African playwright Athol Fugard pays tribute to two relatives who inspired him to write. His slightly older cousin Johnnie played the piano while Athol improvised accompanying words for performance pieces they called "musical stories." When his troubled cousin Garth Fugard confesses his homosexuality, Athol, realizing that he had already guessed this, had his "first experience of that most essential of all writers' faculties--intuition." The book also contains intriguing explications of the autobiographical elements in works from Blood Knot to Master Harold ... and the Boys.

From Library Journal

This memoir by South African playwright Fugard (e.g., Master Harold & the Boys) tells of his childhood relationships with two older cousins, Johnnie and Garth. Each influenced Fugard in different ways that both encouraged him to write and also became grist for his plays. Johnnie, a maternal cousin, fired the playwright's interest in music and performance. To entertain customers at his parents' tea room, young Fugard told stories set to the music of his cousin's inspired piano playing. Garth, on the other hand, was the ne'er-do-well cousin from the "wicked" side of the Fugard family. He was an adventurer and wanderer who appeared only when out of luck and money. A readable gem of a memoir that also reveals much of the culture of white South Africa in mid-century, this is highly recommended wherever literay memoirs are popular.?Katherine K. Koenig, Ellis Sch., Pittsburgh
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Theatre Communications Group; First edition. edition (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559361328
• ISBN-13: 978-1559361323
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,486,591 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.