45 pages 1 hour read

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

An Octoroon

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2015

A 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

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins masterfully reinvents a 19th-century melodrama, blending sharp humor with potent social commentary. Critics praise its bold examination of race and identity, though some find its avant-garde approach disjointed. The play’s inventive staging and provocative themes both challenge and engage audiences, making it a notable contemporary work.

Who should read this

Who Should Read An Octoroon?

Readers who enjoy complex narratives that tackle race, identity, and American history in a provocative and satirical manner would find An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins compelling. Fans of works like The Sellout by Paul Beatty and White Teeth by Zadie Smith can appreciate its bold reimagining of a 19th-century melodrama.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre
Play: Drama
Satire
Topics
Race / Racism
Themes
Values/Ideas: Equality
Society: Class
Emotions/Behavior: Love