The most successful African-American playwright of his time, August Wilson is a dominant presence on Broadway and in regional theatres and college drama courses throughout the country. In little more than a decade, his work has earned him two Pulitzer Prizes, two Tonys and six New York Drama Critics Circle Awards. In this book Joan Herrington, traces the roots of Wilson's drama to visual artists like Romare Bearden and to the jazz musicians who inspire and energise him as a dramatist. She goes on to analyse his process of playwriting, how he brings his experiences and his ideas to stage life.

This book explores the inspirations and creative process of America's Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights of the last dozen years. There is a chapter on each playwright: Wasserstein, Wilson, Simon, Schenkkan, Kushner, Albee, Foote, Larson, Vogel, Edson, and Margulies. It also includes interviews in which these artists speak about the state of theatre in America, offering their prescriptions for survival.

This book explores the inspirations and creative process of America's Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights of the last dozen years. There is a chapter on each playwright: Wasserstein, Wilson, Simon, Schenkkan, Kushner, Albee, Foote, Larson, Vogel, Edson, and Margulies. It also includes interviews in which these artists speak about the state of theatre in America, offering their prescriptions for survival.