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Book Review of The Known World

The Known World
The Known World
Author: Edward P. Jones
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Paperback
reviewed on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


This is a pre-review: a local university hosts a "visiting writers series" each year, and Edward P. Jones was the third writer in this year's series. He read a chapter from The Known World; I was mesmerized by his crafting of visual images, detailed characterizations, and the historical research which led to his writing the book: a 50-page book on slavery in Virginia (which had been written many, many years ago) and, in the chapter he read to us, the interaction between a free man of color and an African-American woman who, with her husband, owned slaves. As good writers and books do, he gave us much to think about.