55 pages • 1 hour read
Top Girls
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Book Brief
112
Play • Fiction
London • 1980s
1982
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Top Girls by Caryl Churchill follows Marlene, a career-driven woman recently promoted to management at the Top Girls employment agency, who celebrates with a dinner attended by historical and mythical women who discuss their experiences with gender-based struggles. The play examines the consequences of Marlene's success on her family, particularly her strained relationship with her sister Joyce and her niece Angie, who may actually be her daughter. Sensitive topics such as rape, pregnancy, and the subjugation of women are discussed.
Challenging
Contemplative
Mysterious
Emotional
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
10,208 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Caryl Churchill's Top Girls is lauded for its innovative structure and feminist themes, highlighting women's struggles and societal roles. Critics praise its sharp dialogue and surreal, historical dinner scene, but some find its non-linear narrative challenging. The play is celebrated for its complex characters and thought-provoking exploration of ambition and gender politics.
Who Should Read Top Girls?
Readers who appreciate strong feminist themes, historical and contemporary female perspectives, and avant-garde narrative styles in plays like A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen or The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler will enjoy Top Girls by Caryl Churchill. Ideal for those who seek complex women characters and social critique.
10,208 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
112
Play • Fiction
London • 1980s
1982
Adult
18+ years
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