BIBLIO is the largest independent book marketplace in the world, with over 100 million books.

Skip to content

Seven Guitars
Stock photo: cover may vary

Seven Guitars Paperback - 1997

by August Wilson

Add to wish list

Pulitzer Prize-winner August Wilson's "Seven Guitars" is the sixth chapter in the continuing theatrical saga that explores the hope, heartbreak, and heritage of the African American experience in the twentieth century. Winner of the New York drama Critics Circle award for Best New Play, it is "a play whose epic proportions and abundant spirit remind us of what the American theater once was".--Vincent Canby, "The New York Times".

Summary

It is the spring of 1948. In the still cool evenings of Pittsburgh's Hill district, familiar sounds fill the air. A rooster crows. Screen doors slam. The laughter of friends gathered for a backyard card game rises just above the wail of a mother who has lost her son. And there's the sound of the blues, played and sung by young men and women with little more than a guitar in their hands and a dream in their hearts.

August Wilson's Seven Guitars is the sixth chapter in his continuing theatrical saga that explores the hope, heartbreak, and heritage of the African-American experience in the twentieth century. The story follows a small group of friends who gather following the untimely death of Floyd "Schoolboy" Barton, a local blues guitarist on the edge of stardom. Together, they reminisce about his short life and discover the unspoken passions and undying spirit that live within each of them.

Reader reviews for Seven Guitars

Write a review for this book

There are no reviews for this book yet. Be the first to write a review!

Your review will be anonymous unless you login or create an account first.

Overall rating
Remember: You’re rating the book as a work, not the seller or the condition of the specific copy you purchased!

Important Terms and Guidelines

  • Please focus on the book’s content and context. Also, add any personal comments as to how you enjoyed the book. Substantiate your likes and dislikes. You may make comparisons to other books.
  • Reviews must be at least 140 characters in length.
  • Please do not reveal critical plot elements.
  • This is not a help line. Contact customer support if you need help.
Your review must not include:
  • Obscenities, discriminatory language, or other insulting language not suitable for public domain
  • Advertisements, “spam” content, or references to other products, offers or websites.
  • Email addresses, URLs, phone numbers, physical addresses or other contact information.
  • Overly critical comments about other reviews or reviewers
  • Time-sensitive material (i.e. promotional tours, seminars, lectures, etc.)
  • Availability, price, or alternative ordering/shipping information

From the publisher

Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Fences and The Piano Lesson
Winner of the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play

It is the spring of 1948. In the still cool evenings of Pittsburgh's Hill district, familiar sounds fill the air. A rooster crows. Screen doors slam. The laughter of friends gathered for a backyard card game rises just above the wail of a mother who has lost her son. And there's the sound of the blues, played and sung by young men and women with little more than a guitar in their hands and a dream in their hearts.

August Wilson's Seven Guitars is the sixth chapter in his continuing theatrical saga that explores the hope, heartbreak, and heritage of the African-American experience in the twentieth century. The story follows a small group of friends who gather following the untimely death of Floyd "Schoolboy" Barton, a local blues guitarist on the edge of stardom. Together, they reminisce about his short life and discover the unspoken passions and undying spirit that live within each of them.

Details

  • Title Seven Guitars
  • Author August Wilson
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Reprint
  • Pages 128
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Plume Books, New York
  • Publication date 1997-08-01
  • Features Price on Product - Canadian
  • ISBN 9780452276925 / 0452276926
  • Weight 0.25 lbs (0.11 kg)
  • Dimensions 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.4 in (20.07 x 13.46 x 1.02 cm)
  • Age range 18 to UP years
  • Grade levels 13 - UP
  • Themes
    • Cultural Region: Mid-Atlantic
    • Ethnic Orientation: African American
  • Category Plays / Drama
  • Library of Congress subjects African Americans - History - 20th century, Historical drama
  • Dewey Decimal Code 812.54

Media reviews

"The seven guitars of the title are the seven characters whose straightforward story lines Wilson turns into beautiful, complex music—a funky wailing, irresistible Chicago blues."
—John Lahr, The New Yorker

"Riveting. . . . Wilson's mastery of time and character has never been more apparent."
—Boston Globe

"A play whose epic proportions and abundant spirit remind us of what the American theater once was. . . . As funny as it is moving and lyrical."
—Vincent Canby, New York Times

"August Wilson is a remarkable American playwright. Seven Guitars is a formidably impressive tragi-comedy. This writing is as like and unlike Arthur Miller, as Duke Ellinton is as like and unlike Igor Stravinsky."
—Clive Barnes, New York Post

"Full of quiet truth . . . mesmerizing . . . a major voice in our theater . . . unusually powerful."
—Howard Kissel, New York Daily News

"A gritty, lyrical polyphony of voices that evokes the character and destiny of men and women who can't help singing the blues even when they're just talking. Bristles with symbolism, with rituals of word and action that explode into anguished eloquence and finally into violence."
—Jack Kroll, Newsweek

Citations

  • Booklist, 09/15/1997, Page 199

About the author

August Wilson was a major American playwright whose work has been consistently acclaimed as among the finest of the American theater. His first play, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for best new play of 1984-85. His second play, Fences, won numerous awards for best play of the year, 1987, including the Tony Award, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, the Drama Desk Award, and the Pulitzer Prize. Joe Turner's Come and Gone, his third play, was voted best play of 1987-1988 by the New York Drama Critics' Circle. In 1990, Wilson was awarded his second Pulitzer Prize for The Piano Lesson. He died in 2005.
Back to top↑

More Copies for Sale

Show all copies
Seven Guitars
Stock photo: cover may vary

Seven Guitars

by Wilson, August

  • Used
  • Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780452276925 / 0452276926
Quantity available
1
Seller
Evergreen Goodwill
Item price
A$3.53
A$5.66 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Plume, 8/1/1997 12:00:01 AM. paperback. Good. 0.5512 in x 7.9528 in x 5.3543 in.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$3.53
A$5.66 Delivery to USA
Seven Guitars
Stock photo: cover may vary

Seven Guitars

by Wilson, August

  • Used
  • Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780452276925 / 0452276926
Quantity available
1
Seller
Campus Bookstore
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$5.67
A$5.66 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Plume, 1997-08-01. Paperback. Good. 0.5512 in x 7.9528 in x 5.3543 in. May contain highlighting/underlining/notes/etc. May have used stickers on cover. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed to be included with used books.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$5.67
A$5.66 Delivery to USA
Seven Guitars
Stock photo: cover may vary

Seven Guitars

by Wilson, August

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780452276925 / 0452276926
Quantity available
1
Seller
Wonder Book
Item price
A$8.68
A$5.66 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Plume. Used - Good. Good condition. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$8.68
A$5.66 Delivery to USA
Seven Guitars

Seven Guitars

by August Wilson

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Paperback
Condition
Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780452276925 / 0452276926
Quantity available
1
Seller
ThriftBooks
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$9.33
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 1997. Paperback. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.33
Free Delivery to USA
Seven Guitars

Seven Guitars

by August Wilson

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780452276925 / 0452276926
Quantity available
1
Seller
ThriftBooks
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$9.42
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 1997. Paperback. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.42
Free Delivery to USA
Seven Guitars

Seven Guitars

by August Wilson

  • Used
  • Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780452276925 / 0452276926
Quantity available
3
Seller
ThriftBooks
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$9.47
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 1997. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.47
Free Delivery to USA
Seven Guitars

Seven Guitars

by August Wilson

  • Used
  • Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780452276925 / 0452276926
Quantity available
1
Seller
ThriftBooks
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$9.47
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 1997. Paperback. Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. An ex-library book and may have standard library stamps and/or stickers. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.47
Free Delivery to USA
Seven Guitars
Stock photo: cover may vary

Seven Guitars

by Wilson, August

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780452276925 / 0452276926
Quantity available
5
Seller
Better World Books
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$11.17
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$11.17
Free Delivery to USA
Seven Guitars
Stock photo: cover may vary

Seven Guitars

by Wilson, August

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780452276925 / 0452276926
Quantity available
1
Seller
Better World Books
Item price
A$11.17
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$11.17
Free Delivery to USA
Seven Guitars
Stock photo: cover may vary

Seven Guitars

by Wilson, August

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780452276925 / 0452276926
Quantity available
1
Seller
Better World Books
Item price
A$11.17
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$11.17
Free Delivery to USA
Show all copies
Back to top↑

Please wait a moment while we load the requested page.