Cover of Crimes of the Heart

Crimes of the Heart

by Beth Henley · 1982

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This drama in three acts won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1981. Set in a small Mississippi town, the play examines the lives of three quirky sisters who have gathered back home. During the course of the week the sisters unearth grudges, criticize each other, reminisce about their family life, and attempt to understand their mother's suicide years earlier.

Genre
literary fictionliterary fictionMore like thisLess of thishumorhumorMore like thisLess of thiscrimecrimeMore like thisLess of this
Themes
theatretheatreMore like thisLess of thisdysfunctional familydysfunctional familyMore like thisLess of thismoviesmoviesMore like thisLess of thiswomenwomenMore like thisLess of this
Setting
20th century20th centuryMore like thisLess of thisAmerican SouthAmerican SouthMore like thisLess of thiscollegecollegeMore like thisLess of thisUSAUSAMore like thisLess of this
Audience
adult
Length
short · 106 pages
Form
playsplaysMore like thisLess of this

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“People who read Crimes of the Heart tend to reach for these next.”

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“If you want more of the same (literary fiction about theatre), start with these.”

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“These start from a similar idea, even if they go somewhere else with it.”

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