logo

27 pages 54 minutes read

Joe Turner's Come and Gone

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1988

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

logo
August Wilson

Joe Turner's Come and Gone

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1988
Book Details
Pages

86

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • 1910s

Publication Year

1988

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

Roundup icon

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.

Mysterious

Contemplative

Emotional

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

4.3

3,536 ratings

73%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

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 this

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.

4.3

3,536 ratings

73%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

86

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • 1910s

Publication Year

1988

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

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.