36 pages 1 hour read

Harold Pinter

The Homecoming

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1964

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

The Homecoming by Harold Pinter depicts the tumultuous reunion of a London family when scholarly son Teddy returns from the U.S. with his wife Ruth. His father Max, along with brothers Lenny and Joey, engage in an escalating power struggle marked by tension, manipulation, and emotional gamesmanship. The arrival of Ruth challenges family dynamics, leading to a shocking reconfiguration of relationships and loyalties.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Harold Pinter's The Homecoming is celebrated for its intense and ambiguous dialogue, with critics praising its dark humor and complex family dynamics. However, some find the play's ambiguity frustrating and its pacing uneven. Overall, it remains a powerful exploration of power and identity, captivating yet polarizing for its bold narrative choices.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Homecoming?

A reader who enjoys Harold Pinter's The Homecoming is likely enamored with complex character dynamics and dark, absurdist themes. Comparable to fans of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, they appreciate tension-filled dialogue and explorations of power and familial dysfunction.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Play: Drama

Psychological Fiction

Education

Themes

Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Identity: Masculinity

Life/Time: Aging

Topics

Education

History: World