This Companion considers the life and career of one of America's most powerful and original dramatists, August Wilson. It dedicates individual chapters to each play in his ten-play cycle, which are ordered chronologically, demonstrating Wilson's notion of an unfolding history of the twentieth century. List of contributors vii Note on the text viii List of plays ix August Wilson: the ground on which he stood 1(27) Christopher Bigsby Been here and gone 28(24) John Lahr August Wilson's relationship to black theatre: community, aesthetics, history and race 52(13) Mary L. Bogumil Music and mythology in August Wilson's plays 65(10) Kim Pereira Gem of the Ocean and the redemptive power of history 75(14) Harry J. Elam, Jr. Joe Turner's Come and Gone 89(13) Samuel A. Hay Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: cutting the historical record, dramatizing a blues CD 102(11) Alan Nadel A piano and its history: family and transcending family 113(11) Felicia Hardison Londre The tragedy of Seven Guitars 124(11) Brenda Murphy Safe at home?: August Wilson's Fences 135(10) Matthew Roudane Two Trains Running: blood on the tracks 145(13) Stephen Bottoms Jitney, folklore and responsibility 158(11) David Krasner King Hedley II: in the midst of all this death 169(14) Joan Herrington Radio Golf: the courage of his convictions - survival, success and spirituality 183(10) Margaret Booker Critics on August Wilson 193(9) David K. Sauer Janice A. Sauer An interview with August Wilson 202(12) Christopher Bigsby Index 214