Twelve Books

by Philip Middleton Williams

Rights are available at www.pmwplaywright.com.

Ten-Minute: (2024) John, a man in his sixties, is packing up the last of his father’s books as the family prepares to move out of their “life enriching community.” He is joined by Tim, the spirit of his father at the age of sixteen, and together they remember reading the twelve books in a series that has been in the family for generations.

Rights are available at www.pmwplaywright.com.

Ten-Minute: (2024) John, a man in his sixties, is packing up the last of his father’s books as the family prepares to move out of their “life enriching community.” He is joined by Tim, the spirit of his father at the age of sixteen, and together they remember reading the twelve books in a series that has been in the family for generations.

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Twelve Books

Recommended by

  • Mathew Green: Twelve Books by Philip Middleton Williams
    “

    A beautiful depiction of loss, memory, and the things we keep. TWELVE BOOKS is suffused with a love of literature and the close connection between certain people and the books that resonate in their lives. Tender work, and sentimental in the best way.

    A beautiful depiction of loss, memory, and the things we keep. TWELVE BOOKS is suffused with a love of literature and the close connection between certain people and the books that resonate in their lives. Tender work, and sentimental in the best way.

    ”
  • Rand Higbee: Twelve Books by Philip Middleton Williams
    “

    Sometimes a play isn't really about the characters or the action but instead about the feelings it invokes. "Twelve Books" is such a play. The spirit of a father comes back from "beyond" to visit his son who is busy packing up the father's belongings. The two connect once again over their love of books. The play is either that simple or that complicated, but I guarantee it will get you thinking about the books you grew up with and the books you cannot part with.

    Sometimes a play isn't really about the characters or the action but instead about the feelings it invokes. "Twelve Books" is such a play. The spirit of a father comes back from "beyond" to visit his son who is busy packing up the father's belongings. The two connect once again over their love of books. The play is either that simple or that complicated, but I guarantee it will get you thinking about the books you grew up with and the books you cannot part with.

    ”
  • Christopher Plumridge: Twelve Books by Philip Middleton Williams
    “

    Books can be so evocative,just seeing the cover of one can throw back memories, good ones and bad.
    And to theses twelve books the skillful hand of Philip and you have a tender, ghostly two hander, sweet and poignant. I can see this being staged in a cosy library, with more than just twelve books on the shelves.

    Books can be so evocative,just seeing the cover of one can throw back memories, good ones and bad.
    And to theses twelve books the skillful hand of Philip and you have a tender, ghostly two hander, sweet and poignant. I can see this being staged in a cosy library, with more than just twelve books on the shelves.

    ”
View all 21 recommendations

Character Information

  • John
    Sixties
  • Tim
    The spirit of John's father at the age of sixteen.

Production History

  • Professional, Miami One-Acts, 2024