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Interviews | June 19, 2009

Dave: IMG Jim Lynch Makes Landscape Art... Out of Text



jimlynchIf Carl Hiaasen set one of his novels on a residential stretch of boundary line between British Columbia and Washington, or if Richard Russo's characters had relatives in the Pacific Northwest, the result might be something like Jim Lynch's Border Songs. Continue »
  1. $18.16 Sale Hardcover add to wish list

    Border Songs

    Jim Lynch

The Known World

by Edward P. Jones

The Known World Cover

ISBN13: 9780060557553
ISBN10: 0060557559
Condition: Standard
All Product Details

Only 1 left in stock at $7.75!

Awards

2004 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
2003 National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction
Finalist for the 2003 National Book Award for Fiction

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

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.

This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.

Review:

"This extraordinary novel [is] the best new work of American fiction to cross my desk in years." Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post Book World

Review:

"[S]tunning....With hard-won wisdom and hugely effective understatement, Mr. Jones explores the unsettling, contradiction-prone world of a Virginia slaveholder who happens to be black." Janet Maslin, The New York Times

Review:

"[K]aleidoscopic....Jones has written a book of tremendous moral intricacy: no relationship here is left unaltered by the bonds of ownership, and liberty eludes most of Manchester County's residents, not just its slaves." The New Yorker

Review:

"[An] impressively researched, challenging novel....[A] harrowing tale thatscarcely ever raises its voice....It should be a major prize contender, and it won't be forgotten." Kirkus Reviews

Review:

"Jones's prose can be rather static and his phrasings ponderous, but his narrative achieves crushing momentum through sheer accumulation of detail, unusual historical insight and generous character writing." Publishers Weekly

Review:

"[A]mbitious....A fascinating look at a painful theme, this book is an ideal choice for book clubs. Highly recommended." Library Journal

About the Author

Edward P. Jones, the New York Times bestselling author, has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize, for fiction, the National Book Critics Circle award, the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, and the Lannan Literary Award for The Known World; he also received a MacArthur Fellowship in 2004. His first collection of stories, Lost in the City won the PEN/Hemingway Award and was short listed for the National Book Award. His second collection, All Aunt Hagar’s Children, was a finalist for the Pen/Faulkner Award. He has been an instructor of fiction writing at a range of universities, including Princeton. He lives in Washington, D.C.

What Our Readers Are Saying

Add a comment for a chance to win!
Average customer rating based on 5 comments:
kymdarl, May 6, 2009 (view all comments by kymdarl)
I just finished reading this book for an English Composition class. Although the book makes many valuable historical points, I found I was almost forcing myself to finish it. Certain events in the book left me confused and wondering how they related to the subject. I also found it difficult to develop any kind of emotional bond to any of the characters. Maybe I just missed it on this one.
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(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
Michelle Burnett, August 24, 2008 (view all comments by Michelle Burnett)
This novel is on my all time top 5 best novels list. Very rich & stirring story that stays with the reader long after completing the story. I highly recommend this book.
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(0 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)
liz-h, April 8, 2007 (view all comments by liz-h)
I have to say that this book left me a bit befuddled. Let me explain that I chose this book for my book group and I was the only one of the six of us to finish the book. This is not typical for my group. The remaining 5 women found the jumping back and forth in time and the numerous characters too difficult to manage. I did finish the book and found the ending to be worth the effort but just barely. The book has many valuable topics and points. However, the characters come and go in different times so quickly that I never felt I had a solid picture in my mind of any of them. For that reason, I was a bit disappointed. I felt the general topic and the setting should have held my attention more completely. Instead, I was forcing myself to continue because I wanted to know why the book had been so well received. I'm aware that I may have missed something here, but I'm a well read, intelligent person and this book just didn't fully live up to my expectations.
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(16 of 24 readers found this comment helpful)
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780060557553
Author:
Jones, Edward P.
Publisher:
Amistad Press
Author:
by Edward P. Jones
Subject:
General
Subject:
Literary
Subject:
Historical - General
Subject:
Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General
Subject:
General Fiction
Copyright:
Edition Number:
Reprint ed.
Edition Description:
Amistad Pbk
Publication Date:
May 25, 2004
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Pages:
432
Dimensions:
8.06x5.32x1.00 in. .73 lbs.

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