66 pages • 2 hours read
Tony KushnerAngels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1993A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Angels in America by Tony Kushner spans 1985 to 1986 in New York, following the lives of interconnected characters dealing with AIDS, sexuality, politics, religion, and mental illness. Gay couple Prior and Louis face Prior's AIDS diagnosis. Mormon couple Harper and Joe struggle with Harper's mental health and Joe's hidden sexuality. Ambitious lawyer Joe is mentored by powerful yet unscrupulous Roy Cohn.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Angels in America by Tony Kushner is hailed for its ambitious exploration of AIDS, sexuality, and politics in 1980s America. Critics praise its rich, complex characters and bold intertwining of the personal with the political. However, some consider its narrative structure overly sprawling. Overall, it's deemed a seminal, thought-provoking work in contemporary theater.
Who Should Read Angels in America?
Readers who relish profound, politically infused dramas with complex character studies would enjoy Angels in America by Tony Kushner. Fans of Beloved by Toni Morrison or The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer, who appreciate narratives addressing social and personal struggles amidst historical backdrops, will find this work compelling.