Crosswinds: An Anthology of Black Dramatists in the Diaspora (Blacks in the Diaspora) [Hardcover]

William B. Branch (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1993 | Series: Blacks in the Diaspora

William Branch, playwright and American Book Award winner, has compiled this collection of plays by contemporary Black dramatists from Africa, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, and the United States. Though widely varied in themes, styles, and objectives, these plays proceed from an Afrocentric wellspring, expressing viewpoints and sentiments largely through the eyes of people of African origin or descent. The anthology contains "Death and the King's Horseman", by Wole Soyinka of Nigeria, 1986 recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature; "Edufa", by Efua Sutherland, Ghana's leading dramatist; "Woza Albert!" by Percy Mtwa, Mbongeni Ngema, and Barney Simon, three of South Africa's most successful theater-makers; "Pantomime", by Derek Walcott, 1992 recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature; "Sortilege II: Zumbi Returns", by Abdias do Nascimento, founder of the Afro-Brazilian movement; "Slave Ship", by Amiri Baraka, mentor of the 1960s Black Arts movement; "In Splendid Error", by William B. Branch, Emmy Award nominee; "Joe Turner's Come and Gone", by August Wilson, two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama; and "The Talented Tenth", by Richard Wesley, AUDELCO recipient.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In his introduction to this collection of works by contemporary black playwrights, Branch (theater, dramatic literature, and communications, Cornell Univ.) traces the history of black--and all Western--drama back to the elaborate passion plays performed as part of ancient Nubian and Egyptian religious festivals. The relationship between religion and theater is part of the black dramatic heritage, he argues; also influential is the African tradition of the "griot," a historian-storyteller. Crosswinds presents playwrights from Africa, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, and the United States, including works by Wole Soyinka, Amiri Baraka, August Wilson, and Branch himself. Powerful and rich, this outstanding contribution to theater arts is recommended for contemporary literature and black studies collections.
- Howard E. Miller, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Missouri Lib., St. Louis
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"Powerful and rich, this outstanding contribution to theater arts is recommended for contemporary literature and black studies collections". Library Journal --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Indiana Univ Pr (July 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253312604
• ISBN-13: 978-0253312600
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,726,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)