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40 pages 1 hour read

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1955

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Book Brief

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Tennessee Williams

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1955
Book Details
Pages

208

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Mississippi Delta • 1950s

Publication Year

1955

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

NP0L

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Super Short Summary

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams revolves around the Pollitt family, who gather to celebrate patriarch Big Daddy's birthday, unaware he is terminally ill. His sons, Brick and Gooper, along with their wives, vie for his inheritance while facing personal struggles, deception, and family secrets, culminating in dramatic confrontations. This book includes discussions on alcohol addiction, anti-gay bias, and suicidal thinking.

Mysterious

Dark

Emotional

Unnerving

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.3

62,471 ratings

75%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is widely lauded for its intense exploration of family dynamics, deceit, and personal anguish. Critics praise its sharp dialogue and complex characters, especially the portrayals of Maggie and Brick. Some reviews note the melodramatic tone and abrupt shifts in mood as potential drawbacks. Overall, it remains a significant, compelling work in American theater.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Cat on a Hot Tin Roof?

A reader who would enjoy Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams is likely drawn to intense family dramas and complex character studies. Fans of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman or Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day's Journey into Night will appreciate the intricate emotional conflicts and themes of truth and illusion in Williams' play.

4.3

62,471 ratings

75%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

208

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Mississippi Delta • 1950s

Publication Year

1955

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

NP0L

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