Fences

by August Wilson
Fences cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Drama
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  • ID: 4678
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • ISBN: 9780452264014
  • Publisher: Plume
  • Published: 1986-01-01
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Fences, by August Wilson, is a powerful drama that delves into the complexities of race, family, and identity in America. The story centers around Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball player who struggles to reconcile his past with the changing societal landscape of the 1950s and 60s. His strong, often harsh demeanor is a product of the pressures he has faced as a Black man in a world that has consistently worked against him. /n/n As the Civil Rights Movement gains momentum, Troy finds himself increasingly isolated, both from the world around him and from his own family. His relationships with his wife, Rose, and his son, Cory, become strained as he grapples with his own fears and the expectations placed upon him. The play is a poignant exploration of the human condition, set against the backdrop of a pivotal moment in American history.

Reviews
Cannonball Read · Vel Veeter · 2017-01-16
moving 4.00

The play is intimate and deeply personal, focusing on the complex dynamics of the Maxson family. The characters are richly drawn, and the dialogue is both poignant and powerful.

Vel Veeter's review highlights the intimate and deeply personal nature of 'Fences', a play that delves into the complex dynamics of the Maxson family. The characters, particularly Troy and Rose, are richly drawn, and their interactions are both poignant and powerful. The dialogue is filled with emotional depth, and the themes of family, love, and resilience are explored with nuance and sensitivity. Vel Veeter appreciates the play's ability to capture the essence of human relationships and the struggles that come with them. The reviewer finds the play to be a moving and thought-provoking exploration of the African American experience, with a particular focus on the challenges and triumphs of the Maxson family.

Quick quotes

    This is a very intimate play.

    The characters are richly drawn, and the dialogue is both poignant and powerful.

    The play captures the essence of human relationships and the struggles that come with them.

African American Intellectual History Society · 2017-01-03
inspiring 4.25

The play offers a glimmer of hope and captures the resilience and perseverance of the African American experience. It is a powerful and moving exploration of family dynamics.

The review from the African American Intellectual History Society highlights 'Fences' as a play that offers a glimmer of hope and captures the resilience and perseverance of the African American experience. The play is a powerful and moving exploration of family dynamics, with a particular focus on the complex relationships between the Maxson family members. The reviewer appreciates the play's ability to capture the essence of the African American experience, with a particular emphasis on the challenges and triumphs of the Maxson family. The play is seen as a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the human condition, with a particular focus on the struggles and triumphs of the African American experience. The reviewer finds the play to be a moving and powerful exploration of the human condition, with a particular focus on the struggles and triumphs of the African American experience.

Quick quotes

    With so many challenges facing our nation, 'Fences' offers a glimmer of hope.

    Capturing resilience and perseverance in the face of resistance.

    The play is a powerful and moving exploration of family dynamics.

The Guardian · Lenny Henry · 2013-06-27
powerful 4.50

The play has all the virtues of the 50s era, with emotional candour and powerful performances. It is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of family dynamics.

Lenny Henry's review of 'Fences' highlights the play's virtues, which are deeply rooted in the 50s era. The emotional candour and powerful performances are particularly noteworthy, with Henry praising the actors for their ability to bring the characters to life. The play is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of family dynamics, with a focus on the complex relationships between the Maxson family members. Henry appreciates the play's ability to capture the essence of the African American experience, with a particular emphasis on the challenges and triumphs of the Maxson family. The reviewer finds the play to be a moving and powerful exploration of the human condition, with a particular focus on the struggles and triumphs of the African American experience.

Quick quotes

    It's a play that has all the virtues, and a few of the failings, of the 50s era in which it is set.

    But it also reminds us of the emotional candour.

    The play is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of family dynamics.

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