A Soldier's Play (Dramabook) [Paperback]

Charles Fuller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1982 | Series: Dramabook

A black sergeant cries out in the night, "They still hate you," then is shot twice and falls dead. Set in 1944 at Fort Neal, a segregated army camp in Louisiana, Charles Fuller's forceful drama--which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1982 and has been regularly seen in both its original stage and its later screen version--tracks the investigation of this murder. A Soldier's Play is more than a detective story: it is a tough, incisive exploration of racial tensions and ambiguities among blacks and between blacks and whites that gives no easy answers and assigns no simple blame.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A powerful drama...skillfully wrought...one of the most evenhanded, penetrating studies that we have yet seen."--Edwin Wilson, The Wall Street Journal

"A relentless investigation into the complex, sometimes cryptic pathology of hate...A mature and accomplished work--from its inspired opening up of conventional theatrical form to its skillful portraiture of a dozen characters to its remarkable breadth of social and historical vision...Mr. Fuller's play tirelessly insists on embracing volatile contradictions because that is the way to arrive at the shattering truth."--Frank Rich, The New York Times

"A complex and rewarding play [by] a playwright of great sensibility."--Clive Barnes, New York Post

"A work of great resonance and integrity..."--Jack Kroll, Newsweek

About the Author

Charles Fuller, the author of many award-winning dramas for stage and screen, teaches Afro-American studies at Temple University. He won the Pulitzer Prize for A Soldier's Play, as well as an Academy Award nomination for his screen adaptation, A Soldier's Story, starring Denzel Washington.

Product Details

• Paperback: 100 pages
• Publisher: Hill and Wang (September 1, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374521484
• ISBN-13: 978-0374521486
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #466,524 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful WW2 drama, November 26, 2001

By 

Michael J. Mazza - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Soldier's Play (Dramabook) (Paperback)

"A Soldier's Play," by Charles Fuller, was presented by the Negro Ensemble Company in New York City in 1981, and went on to win a Pulitzer Prize. A film version, retitled "A Soldier's Story," was directed by Norman Jewison. This play takes place in 1944 (during World War II) at Fort Neal, Louisiana. Fuller takes us into an all-Black unit, commanded by a white officer, in the segregated army.

The play begins with the murder of one of its principal characters: Tech/Sergeant Vernon Waters, by an unknown killer. Waters' story is recreated in flashbacks; the play is essentially the story behind the investigation into the crime. The situation on the base, which is already hot with racial tension, intensifies when an African-American officer is assigned to the case.

Fuller has taken an explosive combination of elements and from them fashioned a truly gripping piece of dramatic art. Suspense, vivid dialogue, memorable characters, and penetrating insights all combine to make this a truly remarkable play. This is also one of those excellent plays which also succeeds as a text for readers.

This is a compelling look at the tensions and controversies surrounding the segregated army. Fuller is particularly effective at demonstrating the corrosive effects of racism on both Blacks and whites. Waters is one of the most powerfully tragic figures in all of American drama. I highly recommend "A Soldier's Play"; it is one of the great literary works about military life.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Soldiers Play J.Quashie, January 2, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: A Soldier's Play (Dramabook) (Paperback)

A Great murder mystery for those who are intrigued by mysteries and other themes such as suspense, betrayal, and loyalty. For people who are not into mysteries. This novel has a combination of mysteries and actual historical events which took place such as World War I which took place during the late 1914's and the Ku Klux Klan . The first page of the play has a hook which draws you further into in the book and makes you want to read more and find out "who done it."

This book could also be compared to "The Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie with the same story line and events but with different setting and plot.

BUT!!!! Even though the play has many good scenes it would have been better if acted out rather than to have been read. It also gets somewhat boring and confusing towards the end because you might have for gotten but everything comes together during the last few pages. I found the book to be a page turner with new clues, hints and evidence in each page, and I would give it four out of five stars because it has a good plot and storyline.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two thumbs up for A Soldiers Play by Devin Wright, January 3, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: A Soldier's Play (Dramabook) (Paperback)

A Soldiers Play is one of the best war stories that i have ever read in my life. If you are looking for a mystery book with twists and turn, this is the book you have been looking for.This book reaches many points that you may not expect. A Soldiers Play has a great deal of Loyalty, Betrayal, and Racism.By the time you finish reading the book,you will detect those plus more.What really made the book good for me was that i had the oppurtunity to act out one of the roles in my class room. I played one of the main roles "Vernon C. Waters". When you act it out, it gives you the chance to know the character better