Worthy of all its praise...

Edward P. Jones' first novel "The Known World" is a landmark in American literature. I do not say that lightly. It has a difficult, yet entertaining and understandable writing style, handles its subject matter with historical accuracy and human relateability, and has some of the most genuine and authentic dialogue I have ever read. For once a contemporary American novel is worth the hype. The success of the book is largely due to how successfully it defies the typical novel structure. There is a thin central storyline here, acting as the nucleus of Jones' myriad of slave folk stories and dozens of characters wrapped around it. There are many names in the book, but Jones always informs and re-informs the reader of just who is who and their importance to the overall piece. Also, the book is so beautifully written you'll find it difficult to put down. This is definitely one that will stay with you long after you've finished it, and I don't think I'd be wrong if I said it's one of the best books of at least the last decade.

Justice Deserved!

Recommend for every Americans to read.

Touching the hearts of everyone, this novel describes the life in a county in America before the war ended the black slaves. This part of history is familiar especially with the US residents, who always claim they are the living for justice, they are the international police for the world, and they are the true followers of Jesus Christ!!!

Inside the America, there were a lot of abuses in races back before the black slaves were all freed. Similarly, there are still discrimination and mis-treat of people by the "whites" as of today.

Is there any compensation for the people whose ancestors were kidnapped from Africa and sold like goods in the markets? Do they deserved any justice and respect from our generations?

What would it be like to be owned by a black man in 1840 VA?

This historical fiction centers on the life of those connected to the plantation of Henry Townsend, a black slave owner in Manchester county, Virginia in the 1840's. The central point in the story is his death. When Henry dies, his widow Caldonia both treats her slaves as family and yet keeps them in bondage. In particular, the overseer, Moses comes undone by this ambivalence. Caldonia invites Moses to have sex with her and Moses assumes she will free him to become her husband. When she doesn't, he tells his wife and child to run away with mad Alice, who got kicked by a mule. Perhaps, Moses reasons, this is what is keeping Caldonia from freeing him. Does Moses' family make it to freedom? Will Moses follow them when he learns Caldonia will not free him? Indeed, where have they gone? While Moses can find his way around the plantation blindfolded, he cannot even tell North from South in the world at large.
While there are many characters in this novel, the quest for freedom and the resources needed to submit to bondage are the more crucial foci in The Known World. For instance, Augustus, Henry's father is shocked when his son buys slaves. He is further shocked when Counsel Simmington eats his free papers and Augustus is sold back into slavery. The story goes on like this exploring various characters, their relationship to one another and the norms of their day. It creates a world that could be real; and a very disturbing world it is.