Three Plays: The Political Theater of Howard Zinn: Emma, Marx in Soho, Daughter of Venus

by Howard Zinn

World-renowned historian Howard Zinn has turned to drama to explore the legacy of Karl Marx and Emma Goldman and to delve into the intricacies of political and social conscience perhaps more deeply than traditional history permits. Three Plays brings together all this work, including the previously unpublished Daughter of Venus, along with a new introductory essay on political theater, and prefaces to each of the plays.

Genres: Politics, Plays, Theatre

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Howard Zinn was an American historian, playwright, philosopher, socialist intellectual and World War II veteran. He was chair of the history and social sciences department at Spelman College, and a political science professor at Boston University. Zinn wrote more than 20 books, including his best-selling and influential A People's History of the United States in 1980. In 2007, he published a version of it for younger readers, A Young People's History of the United States.

Zinn described himself as "something of an anarchist, something of a socialist. Maybe a democratic socialist." He wrote extensively about the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement and labor history of the United States. His memoir, You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train (Beacon Press, 1994), was also the title of a 2004 documentary about Zinn's life and work. Zinn died of a heart attack in 2010, at the age of 87.

Reviews

[Tammam Aloudat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having picked this book accidentally when looking for more to read on Emma Goldman upon finishing her "Anarchism and other essays", I was delighted to see the fluidity of what is essentially a history lesson made into the play.

In Emma, Zinn nuances a historical biography with the tools of drama. Emma comes to life and so do other characters in a way a history book cannot achieve. Her convictions and relations as well as other characters are in her life, especially Alexander Berkman, are all lively and human and Zinn moves Goldman away from her shape as an icon into one that has quirks, desires, and inconsistencies. All while teaching us about her life and time.

Even more fun is Marx in Soho where an administrative error in the afterlife sends Marx back to Soho in New York rather than in London. The whole play is a single monologue where Marx talks about his ideas, his family, sips beer, rants about Bakunin, and essentially give a commentary about modern American life and capitalism. One little spoiler, Marx is not a Marxist.

Every time I read anything from Zinn, from the Bomb to his plays in this book, I enjoy the deep analysis, the flowing prose, and the underlying moral message of a great historian.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going to hibernate this and return to the next two plays when the worlds less insane.

[Minā · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma: 3.5/5
Marx in Soho: 4/5
Daughter of Venus: 5/5

[Ivy Inwoner · Rating 4 out of 5]

emma: 3/5
marx in soho: 4/5
daughter of venus: 5/5