MASTER HAROLD AND THE BOYS: A Play (Vintage International)
MASTER HAROLD AND THE BOYS: A Play (Vintage International) book cover

MASTER HAROLD AND THE BOYS: A Play (Vintage International)

Paperback – October 13, 2009

Price
$8.18
Format
Paperback
Pages
64
Publisher
Vintage
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0307475206
Dimensions
5.17 x 0.2 x 8 inches
Weight
2.4 ounces

Description

"One of Fugard's most universal works of theatre. It operates on two levels: as the story of a loving but lacerating relationship between a black man and a white boy; and ... as a powerful political statement about apartheid." —Mel Gussow, New Yorker "The greatest active playwright in the English-speaking world." — Time "In 'Master Harold' ... and the boys the author has journeyed so deep into the psychosis of racism that all national boundaries quickly fall away, that no one is left unimplicated by his vision.... Mr. Fugard has forced us to face point-blank, our capacity for hate ... but we're also left with the exultant hope that we may yet practice compassion without stumbling.... The choice, of course, is ours.xa0 Mr. Fugard's wrenching play, which insists that we make it, is beyond beauty."—Frank Rich, The New York Times "An exhilarating play ... a triumph of playmaking, and unforgettable!" — New York Post ATHOL FUGARDxa0was born in South Africa in 1932 and is an internationally acclaimed playwright. His best-known plays include Bloodknot (1961); Boesman and Lena (1969); Sizwe Bansi Is Dead (1972); The Island (1973), and My Children! My Africa! (1989).

Features & Highlights

  • A compelling drama of South African apartheid and a universal coming-of-age story, from "the greatest active playwright in the English-speaking world" (
  • Time
  • ).
  • Originally produced in 1982, "Master Harold and the Boys" is now an acknowledged classic of the stage, whose themes of injustice, racism, friendship, and reconciliation traverse borders and time.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(179)
★★★★
25%
(75)
★★★
15%
(45)
★★
7%
(21)
-7%
(-21)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Ballroom Dancing and Life

I really enjoyed this short play- there's so much packed into so little. Keep in mind this was a text taught to my students, so I'm definitely reviewing it from the perspective of an English teacher:

Positives:
- Themes aplenty- race, father figures, intellect, age, art...
- And the symbolism- kites, ballroom dancing, comic books...
- Characters- so well-developed for a play that spans the course of just one afternoon
- The dialogue is so rich and powerful- the climax of the play is incredibly moving and insanely well-written
- Much can be done with historical and social context

Definitely a good read- would be a great airplane read- short, but deep (unless you're sitting next to a noisy child or a loud snorer).
6 people found this helpful
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Intense Examination of Institutionalized Racism

This one-act play is set in 1950 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in 1950. The three characters are Harold, the white son of the café's owner, and Sam and Willie, two black employees who are cleaning up after the day's lunch business when the play begins.

What follows is a conversation that slowly builds into an intense look at institutionalized racism and the dynamics of a broken family. Along the way, the audience learns the history of Harold's childhood, his relationships with his parents and with Sam and Willie, and gets some poignant glimpses of the culture they all live in.

"Master Harold "... And The Boys packs a lot of punch into its dialogue, especially as it reaches its climax. There are some wonderful little details as well, as the conversation touches on music and dancing, comic books and kites, and the question of who were the truly influential figures in history.

The climax brings the issue of race to the forefront and delves into Harold's conflicted emotions about the failings of his father and Sam's role as a father figure in his life.
2 people found this helpful
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great product
1 people found this helpful
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Four Stars

GautamiPutra Satakarni
1 people found this helpful
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profound critique of socio-economic world

great play written brilliantly. Very important terms of the current socioeconomic situation in the world. It's a great tool for educational use. The play is easy to read but is very profound and complex at the same time.
1 people found this helpful
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its alright

very racist not cool bro
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i just needed it for drama class

i um liked that i had it for class?
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Good price

Good price
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Five Stars

Nice and very new! Wonderful paper quality!
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She is a high achiever and doesn't like any of her books pages to be bent much ...

I received this book on time, but it was ripped on the front right cover. It wasn't a huge deal to me, but it was a very big deal to my daughter. She is a high achiever and doesn't like any of her books pages to be bent much less ripped.