27 pages • 54 minutes read
August WilsonJoe Turner's Come and Gone
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1988A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Set in Pittsburgh in 1911, Joe Turner's Come and Gone by August Wilson revolves around the residents of a boarding house run by Seth and Bertha Holly during the Great Migration. Various boarders, including Bynum, Jeremy, and Harold Loomis, who searches for his wife, Martha, navigate complex personal histories and aspirations, reflecting broader African-American experiences of displacement and hope. This play contains themes of kidnapping, exploitation, and systemic racism.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone impresses with its rich storytelling, evocative depiction of African American experiences, and strong character development. Critics praise its historical depth and emotional resonance. Some find the pacing slow in parts, but the play's cultural and thematic significance remains highly impactful. A must-read for its powerful exploration of identity and heritage.
Who Should Read Joe Turner's Come and Gone?
Readers who appreciate rich historical contexts and complex character development, much like in The Color Purple by Alice Walker, will enjoy August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone. Fans of exploring African American experiences, as in Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, will also be captivated by its emotional depth and cultural insights.