Details
Rent The Known World
Author:
Narrator: Kevin Free
Format: Unabridged-CD, Paperback
Publisher: Harperaudio
Published: Jun 2004
Genre: Social Science - Ethnic Studies - African American Studies
Retail Price: $39.95
Discs: 12
Synopsis
In one of the most acclaimed novels in recent memory, Edward P. Jones, two-time National Book Award finalist, tells the story of Henry Townsend, a black farmer and former slave who falls under the tutelage of William Robbins, the most powerful man in Manchester County, Virginia. Making certain he never circumvents the law, Townsend runs his affairs with unusual discipline. But when death takes him unexpectedly, his widow, Caldonia, can't uphold the estate's order and chaos ensues. In a daring and ambitious novel, Jones has woven a footnote of history into an epic that takes an unflinching look at slavery in all of its moral complexities. Performed by Kevin Free/p
Reviews
This book was so authentic emotionally and in its level of detail and realism that it was hard to accept it as fiction!
The depth of description and feeling in this book reminded me of Cold Moutain. Yet I found this even more riveting. The author includes a list and description of the characters, should the reader forget a relationship.
Agony. Pain. Misery. Torture. You will experience all of the above trying to follow this book. Exercise your freedom. Run away from this novel. I really was excited to read this one, but could not follow the endless list of characters and their families. If you like reading phone books, you will love this.
Historically, the book is a great review of a difficult period in American history. The narrative is difficult to follow because the timeline is all over the place.