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Liked It3 of 3 members found this review helpful “Edward P. Jones tells his imagined story behind a curious set of US census entries from the mid-19th century: a number of black slaveholders. This is one of the best novels about slavery I've ever read. It's epic but personal, and searches out the places and situations where race and hierarchy...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Set in Manchester County, Virginia, 20 years before the Civil War began, Edward P. Jones's debut novel, The Known World, is a masterpiece of overlapping plot lines, time shifts, and heartbreaking details of life under slavery. Caldonia Townsend is an educated black slaveowner, the widow of a well-loved young farmer named Henry, whose parents had bought their own freedom, and then freed their son, only to watch him buy himself a slave as soon as he had saved enough money. Although a fair and gentle master by the standards of the day, Henry Townsend had learned from former master about the proper distance to keep from one's property. After his death, his slaves wonder if Caldonia will free them. When she fails to do so, but instead breaches the code that keeps them separate from her, a little piece of Manchester County begins to unravel. Impossible to rush through, The Known World is a complex, beautifully written novel with a large cast of characters, rewarding the patient reader with unexpected connections, some reaching into the present day. --Regina Marler”
North Shore Country Day School English-10 wrote this review 8 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“For some reason, it took me FOREVER to get through this book. I liked it, found it moving, but not compelling. I was never compelled to pick it up and see what happened next. I was surprised, when reading an interview with the author at the end of the book, that the book was more fiction than historical. Edward P. Jones is a masterful writer. ”
Lori K wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“An insight into slavery. It was all new to me. Enjoyed the writing.”
Lesley B wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“terrific novel of slavery, multiple characters and story lines based around plantation owned by freed Blacks, exquisite writing”
Jenny A wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A very powerful book but a tough read with the characters and timelines changing back and forth.”
Meera S wrote this review Sunday, November 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I loved it.”
Jabari A wrote this review Saturday, November 7 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I was in Virginia while reading this. Fun to actually see the landscape of the story.”
Perrin R wrote this review Friday, October 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“moments of transcendence, and then the rest...”
michael o wrote this review Wednesday, October 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I love historical fiction. It never even occurred to me that Blacks had owned slaves so far into slavery. This was a great story about race and class.”
Jzarah B wrote this review Sunday, September 27 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I can't say enough about this novel, remarkable both in its style, format, and its language and story. Moving, shocking, and deeply absorbing, this nonlinear tale weaves its way through the lives of its characters like the jerky motions of a sleepwalker startled awake, who falls asleep to dream again, only to wake in a different place. ”
Bett N wrote this review Thursday, September 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
