The Darker Face of the Earth
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Book Overview
Rita Dove served as poet laureate of the United States from 1993 to 1995. She has been awarded many literary and academic honours, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1987 and the 1996 National... This description may be from another edition of this product.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:1885266944
ISBN13:9781885266941
Release Date:September 2000
Publisher:Story Line Press
Length:182 Pages
Weight:0.64 lbs.
Dimensions:8.8" x 0.5" x 6.0"
Customer Reviews
2 ratings
The Darker Face of the Earth
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
The Darker Face of the Earth is a wonderful book. It keeps the reader on the edge of his seat. The play is based on the well know Greek story of Oedipus, so it makes the story easier to follow for the reader. Even though you know what will happen in the end of the story it is still surprisingly suspenseful. There are many more actions in this play that lead up to the conclusion than in Oedipus, which adds to the enjoyment of reading this book. The Darker Face of the Earth is an excellent mix of the tangles of a mother and son caught in their sins, and the hardships of slavery. The play is a quick read and I recommend it to anyone who has a free hour or two, because once you start reading this book you will not be able to put it down.
The Darker Face of the Earth
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
Rita Dove's poetry permeates this remarkable new play which uses the Oedipal myth as a structural device as well as a means to enter the world of human slavery as practiced in South Carolina circa 1829-1840. Central to the story is the unusual and compelling relationship between the plantation owner, Amalia Jennings, and her newly acquired revolutionary slave, Augustus Newcastle. Unlike the other slaves who collectively function as the Greek chorus, Augustus can read and write, thus making him not only dangerous but attractive to the high spirited Amalia. Greek mythology aside, THE DARKER FACE OF THE EARTH is a challenging play not only for the reader but for potential producers. But it is well worth the challenge. It is rare that depictions of the conditions of slavery are revealed by 1) an African American, 2) a woman, 3) a poet, and 4) a master storyteller.
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