55 pages • 1 hour read
Fires In The Mirror
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
208
Play • Fiction
Brooklyn, New York • 1990s
1993
Adult
16-18 years
NP0L
Super Short Summary
Fires in the Mirror by Anna Deavere Smith addresses the Crown Heights Riots of August 1991 in Brooklyn, NY, through a series of verbatim monologues taken from interviews conducted shortly after the events. The play highlights the racial tensions between the Jewish and Black communities, contextualized within broader American racial struggles, and features 29 monologues performed by Smith, portraying various real-life figures. The play includes graphic descriptions of violence and systemic racism.
Informative
Mysterious
Challenging
Contemplative
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
1,483 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Fires In The Mirror by Anna Deavere Smith is lauded for its raw and compelling portrayal of racial tensions and community identity. Critics appreciate its innovative documentary-style format and the powerful, nuanced performances. Some note it can be challenging due to its fragmented narrative, but most agree it’s a profound and thought-provoking theatrical piece.
Who Should Read Fires In The Mirror?
Readers who appreciate Fires In The Mirror by Anna Deavere Smith are often drawn to complex societal issues, dramatic storytelling, and ethnographic theater. Fans of works like Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 and The Laramie Project will value its poignant exploration of race, identity, and community tensions.
1,483 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
208
Play • Fiction
Brooklyn, New York • 1990s
1993
Adult
16-18 years
NP0L
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.