Orson Welles co-wrote, directed, and starred in Citizen Kane, War of the Worlds, and The Cradle Will Rock, but before all of these, he co-wrote the play Marching Song about abolitionist John Brown. This play chronicles Brown's fight against slavery, his raid on Harpers Ferry, his capture, conviction, and execution. It also demonstrates Welles' burgeoning development as a social commentator and advocate for human rights, particularly for African Americans.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 09 October 2019
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Marching Song: A Play by Orson Welles and Roger Hill

Marching Song: A Play is a work by one of America's true geniuses at an early stage of his creative growth. Steeped in historical detail, the play chronicles Brown's fight against slavery, his raid on Harpers Ferry, his capture, his conviction for treason, and his execution. In addition to the entire text of the play, this volume features a biographical sketch of Welles and Hill—written by Hill's grandson—during their days together at Todd. A fascinating dramatization of a pivotal event in American history, this play also demonstrates Welles' burgeoning development as a social commentator and an advocate for human rights, particularly on behalf of African Americans. Featuring a foreword by noted Welles biographer, Simon Callow, Marching Song: A Play is an important work by an American icon.

Weight: 458g
Dimension: 232 x 160 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538125526