Supported by powerful director Jim Minsk and preeminent playwright Jack Brashford, Ian Ball, a Black southern playwright hated by theater feminists, hopes to redeem himself with a play in which women have all the good parts
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
A Jewish stage director is killed by a mob of anti-Semitic "Christians," a black female playwright flees the New York celebrity rat race, a young Caribbean playwright becomes a huge (but, he realizes, hollow) success, a masked black man shaves feminists' heads, an Archie Bunkerish Irishman sees the lightand yet nothing much seems to happen in Reed's (Mumbo Jumbo latest satire. Most of the book is devoted to long monologues by various characters against "the enemy": black men, black women, sexists, feminists, Jews, gentiles and occasional combinations. There is one hilarious scene, however, concerning a play that seeks to rehabilitate Eva Braun (portrayed as a victim like everyone else). The view of life at the top in a British colony in the Caribbean is devastating in its depiction of how rotten the ruling class can be to its own people. At the book's dreamy end, novelist-playwright-poet Reed seems to agree with Pogo: the enemy is us.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Ian Ball's first play, a box office smash, enraged feminists everywhere. The young black author plans to win them over with his latest, which will be edited, acted, and produced by women. As opening night nears, a mad molester begins accosting noted feminists and shaving their heads. Various disgruntled black males are immediately suspected, and an aging cop, who combines the worst qualities of Dirty Harry and Archie Bunker, begins to investigate. This sketchy plot serves as a springboard for Reed's sardonic observations on racial and sexual politics. There's something to offend and amuse everyone. However, those who complained that Reed's earlier novels were overburdened with historical and occult lore may find this one a bit impoverished by their absence. An enjoyable minor work by a major Afro-American author. Edward B. St. John, Loyola Marymount Univ. Lib.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Seller: West County Books, Sebastopol, CA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. 1st Edition. Cover has a couple of dings, otherwise intact copy with no internal markings. Seller Inventory # ABE-1760302813847
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Condition: 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. Seller Inventory # 40555861-6
Seller: Du Bois Book Center, Englewood, NJ, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Poor. 1st Edition. 148pp. Novel. Black boards with bright gilt title on spne. Pictorial dust jacket with title and title on spine panel. Seller Inventory # 2255
Seller: Lowry's Books, Three Rivers, MI, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. 1st Edition. This first edition has little corner bumping or edge wear. Interior text has slightly darkened at the edges, clean and tight in binding. Unclipped DJ in protective cover. Seller Inventory # 606093
Seller: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0312665806I3N10
Seller: Casa Camino Real, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. First Edition. "In this hilarious, devastating, but also deeply sympathetic novel, Ishmael Reed turns characters on the backs, sides, tops and bottoms to expose the multiple hypocrisies at the heart of American culture." Reed is the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship and founder of the American Book Awards. Myalr covered, with a little edgewear with chips at top of spine and small tear on front cover. Text is fine and unread. Inventory #000417. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Seller Inventory # 000417
Seller: Between the Covers-Rare Books, Inc. ABAA, Gloucester City, NJ, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First edition. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with some fading on the spine and edgewear. Seller Inventory # 613892
Seller: Dan Pope Books, West Hartford, CT, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. First printing. Correct number line, including the 1. A fine book in a fine dust jacket. A tight copy, which appears unread, without any marks or defects. Dust jacket is clean and bright with price intact on front flap ($12.95), with one tiny closed tear to rear cover. Comes with archival-quality dust jacket protector. Shipped in well padded box. Seller Inventory # Fiction-Stacks-R-003
Seller: Magers and Quinn Booksellers, Minneapolis, MN, U.S.A.
hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Condition: Very Good; Hardcover in dustjacket. Signed by Reed on the title page. Signature only. First Edition with number line to 1. Condition is Very Good in a Very Good dustjacket. Book has clean covers and pages, sharp corners and a tight, square binding. Jacket is clean and bright with no rips or tears. Photos upon request. Seller Inventory # 1476110
Seller: ThriftBooksVintage, Tukwila, WA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. First Edition. DJ has light edge wear with scuffing and smudging as well as tearing. Boards have light shelf rubbing with scuffing and smudging as well as bumping. Binding is sound. End pages have light smudging and scuffing. Page edges have light scuffing and smudging. Interior pages are smudged. This could have light cosmetic flaws, but remains in good condition. Dust jacket condition is Good. This copy is the First Edition of the published work. This copy is the First Printing of the published work. Secure packaging for safe delivery. Seller Inventory # 1677636690