The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr

The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr

Instant New York Times Bestseller

May this book cast its spell on all of us, restore to us some memory of our most warrior and softest selves. --The New York Times Book Review

A new kind of epic.A grand achievement.While The Prophets' dreamy realism recalls the work of Toni Morrison.its penetrating focus on social dynamics stands out more singularly. --Entertainment Weekly

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 masterfully reveals the pain and suffering of inheritance, but is also shot through with hope, beauty, and truth, portraying the enormous, heroic power of love.

Robert Jones, Jr. is a writer from New York City. He received his BFA in creative writing, and MFA in fiction from Brooklyn College. He has written for numerous publications, including The New York Times, Essence, and The Paris Review. He is the creator and curator of the social-justice, social-media community Son of Baldwin, which has over 275,000 members across platforms. The Prophets is his debut novel.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780593085684
ISBN 10	059308568X
Title	The Prophets
Author	Robert Jones Jr
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Penguin Putnam Inc
Year published	2021-01-05
Number of pages	400
Prizes	Commended for National Book Awards (Fiction) 2021
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable