Valley Song
Valley Song
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1995
Book Brief
60
Play • Fiction
South Africa • 1990s
1995
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Valley Song by Athol Fugard is a one-act play about the tensions between a seventy-six-year-old tenant farmer named Abraam Yonkers ("Buks") and his seventeen-year-old granddaughter, Veronica, when a white man expresses interest in buying the Landman estate where they live. Buks fears losing his livelihood, while Veronica dreams of escaping their rural village to pursue a singing career in the city.
Hopeful
Inspirational
Contemplative
Emotional
Melancholic
Reviews & Readership
131 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Athol Fugard's Valley Song garners praise for its poignant storytelling and powerful examination of post-apartheid South Africa, capturing the struggle between tradition and change. Critics commend its rich character development and emotional depth. However, some note a slower narrative pace. Overall, the play's heartfelt narrative and social commentary receive widespread acclaim.
Who Should Read Valley Song?
A reader who would enjoy Athol Fugard's Valley Song appreciates poignant, character-driven narratives exploring themes of hope, generational change, and social issues. Comparable to those who admire August Wilson’s Fences or Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, they seek deeply emotional and reflective dramas.
131 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
60
Play • Fiction
South Africa • 1990s
1995
Adult
18+ years
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