The Prophets
Books | Fiction / Literary
3.8
(190)
Robert Jones, Jr.
Best Book of the YearNPR • The Washington Post • Boston Globe • TIME • USA Today • Entertainment Weekly • Real Simple • Parade • Buzzfeed • Electric Literature • LitHub • BookRiot • PopSugar • Goop • Library Journal • BookBub • KCRW • Finalist for the National Book Award• One of the New York Times Notable Books of the Year• One of the New York Times Best Historical Fiction of the Year• Instant New York Times Bestseller A singular and stunning debut novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation, the refuge they find in each other, and a betrayal that threatens their existence. Isaiah was Samuel's and Samuel was Isaiah's. That was the way it was since the beginning, and the way it was to be until the end. In the barn they tended to the animals, but also to each other, transforming the hollowed-out shed into a place of human refuge, a source of intimacy and hope in a world ruled by vicious masters. But when an older man—a fellow slave—seeks to gain favor by preaching the master's gospel on the plantation, the enslaved begin to turn on their own. Isaiah and Samuel's love, which was once so simple, is seen as sinful and a clear danger to the plantation's harmony. With a lyricism reminiscent of Toni Morrison, Robert Jones, Jr., fiercely summons the voices of slaver and enslaved alike, from Isaiah and Samuel to the calculating slave master to the long line of women that surround them, women who have carried the soul of the plantation on their shoulders. As tensions build and the weight of centuries—of ancestors and future generations to come—culminates in a climactic reckoning, The Prophets fearlessly reveals the pain and suffering of inheritance, but is also shot through with hope, beauty, and truth, portraying the enormous, heroic power of love.
Historical Fiction
Lgbtq+
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More Details:
Author
Robert Jones, Jr.
Pages
400
Publisher
Penguin
Published Date
2021-01-05
ISBN
0593085701 9780593085707
Community ReviewsSee all
"Incredibly heartbreaking and lyrical. This is an important novel to reflect America’s dark history, and elevate long-silenced voices in a haunting and resounding way. The ending was the most impactful part for me, I will be thinking about it for a long time. Very powerful and beautiful writing, but can be more abstract and vague at times. Highly recommended. "
"Great Read!"
H O
Haley Olsen
"This book is beautifully lyrical. It weaves the lives of enslaved people with the mystical stories of their ancestors in a way I haven’t seen in other historical fiction about slavery in America. It’s a sad and heavy read, but worth it. (audiobook is beautifully narrated) "
K A
Katie Askenasy
"Great read from beginning to end"
K
Kaydon