28 pages • 56 minutes read
Topdog/Underdog
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Book Brief
112
Play • Fiction
One-room apartment • 1990s
2001
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks focuses on the lives of African American brothers Lincoln and Booth, reflecting on their familial and personal struggles after being abandoned by their parents. Lincoln, a former hustler turned Abraham Lincoln impersonator, and Booth, who idolizes his brother's past, navigate their fraught relationship in a grim, conflict-laden environment. This play contains themes of racism, violence, and abandonment.
Dark
Gritty
Challenging
Emotional
Suspenseful
Reviews & Readership
6,945 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks is lauded for its compelling dialogue and complex exploration of sibling rivalry and identity. Critics praise Parks's sharp, lyrical writing and the depth of her characters. However, some have noted that the play's intensity and occasionally bleak tone might not appeal to all audiences. Overall, it is a powerful, provocative work.
Who Should Read Topdog/Underdog?
A reader who enjoys Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks likely appreciates intense character studies, themes of sibling rivalry, and the exploration of identity and destiny. Fans of August Wilson’s Fences or Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun will find similar depth and power in Parks’s work.
6,945 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Lincoln
Lincoln
An older black man who stepped into a patriarchal role after their father left, Lincoln is a former three-card monte hustler who now works as a Lincoln impersonator while trying to maintain a relationship with his brother.
112
Play • Fiction
One-room apartment • 1990s
2001
Adult
18+ years
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