The Known World

Name: The Known World
ISBN: 9780060767198

by Edward P. Jones · first published 2003

3mentions

1recommended by

2HN commenters

2015–2019first – last mentioned

50% recommend50% neutral

Fiction & Literature

Henry Townsend, a black farmer, bootmaker, and former slave, has a fondness for Paradise Lost and an unusual mentor -- William Robbins, perhaps the most powerful man in antebellum Virginia's Manchester County. Under Robbins's tutelage, Henry becomes proprietor of his own plantation -- as well as of his own slaves. When he dies, his widow, Caldonia, succumbs to profound grief, and things begin to fall apart at their plantation: slaves take to escaping under the cover of night, and families who had once found love beneath the weight of slavery begin to betray one another. Beyond the Townsend e

BuyBookshop.org Amazon

Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

View on Open Library ISBN 9780060767198

Mentions per year

What Hacker News says

Pelam · Dec 29, 2019 · Recommends

"The Known World" By Edward P. Jones, Historical fiction about former slaves who own slaves, https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/edward-p-jones "Your Brain At work" - Practical insight into how emotions affect thinking,…
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade?” ↗
classicsnoot · Jan 20, 2015 · Mentions

…Capitalism, a collection of essays by multiple authors on the necessity of markets and the interference of central control on said markets, which is obviously heavy but very informative. My next book is The Known World by Edward P. Jones. It is about slaves. It is supposed to be rough on the emotions but well done.
on “Ask HN: What are you reading?” ↗
classicsnoot · Apr 17, 2015 · Mentions

…Read Aloud by William Russell. The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller. Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by ???. Cryptonomicon by Neil Stephenson. Markets, Not Capitalism by Various Authors. The Known World by Edward P. Jones. The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. River of Gods by Ian MacDonald. Delivered From Distraction by Edward Hallowell. Eye Mind: The Saga of Roky Erickson and the 13th Floor Elevators, the…
on “Ask HN: What are you reading?” ↗