Onvan: The Known World

Ande: Edward P. Jones

ISBN: 61159174

ISBN13: 9780061159176

Dar 432 Safhe

Saal e Chap: 2003

"The Known World" is a remarkable work penned by Edward P. Jones. Published in 2003, this book consists of 432 pages. With its unique ISBN and ISBN13 numbers, it stands out in the literary world. The story likely takes readers on a journey through a world that is both familiar and full of surprises. Jones' writing style is known for its depth and complexity, and this book is no exception. It explores themes such as race, class, and the human condition. As readers turn the pages, they are sure to be engaged by the vivid characters and the compelling narrative. "The Known World" is a must-read for anyone interested in literature that delves into the heart of the human experience.

Yeah.

It's a Pulitzer Prize winning work, but I can only give it 2.5 stars. (WHERE ARE THOSE HALF STAR RATINGS OTIS!?!??!)

I have to say that I found the story really slow. It just didn't have that engaging element that could draw me in and make me feel something. In fact, it was so slow that it didn't move me at all.

However, on the bright side, it did turn out to be a wonderful cure for my insomnia. Maybe for some people who are looking for a gentle and calming read to help them fall asleep, this book could be a great choice. But for me, who was hoping for a more exciting and captivating story, it was a bit of a disappointment.

Overall, I think the Pulitzer Prize might have been a bit overrated in this case.

But where, in all she taught her son, was it about thou shall own no one, having been owned once your own self. Don't go back to Egypt after God done took you outa there.

These are the profound thoughts of Mildred Townsend upon learning that her son Henry has purchased his first slave. Her husband Augustus, in contrast, doesn't take a moment to reflect. Instead, he angrily beats his son and disowns him.

Some books are of such high quality that it's extremely challenging to convey all that they mean to you. This is precisely one of those books. It is incredibly powerful. It reminds me a great deal of Uncle Tom's Cabin in the sense that it doesn't let people off the hook for simply being a "nice" slave owner or for not owning slaves or agreeing with slavery. Jones does this here but takes it to a new level where Black people own slaves. I had to look up if that actually happened because I wasn't certain if it was just a literary device. It turns out it isn't a trick; it's true.

Uncle Tom's Cabin was written during the time when slavery was still ongoing as a desperate plea to Christians to get more involved in ending it, even if they lived in the north, didn't own slaves, or treated their slaves well. It had a fast-paced, driving narrative with a linear timeline of the life of Tom and others in his circle. The adrenaline it generated conveyed the urgency to hasten the end of slavery.

This book, on the other hand, is not told in a driving linear fashion. Instead, it unfolds in a way that promotes a more reflective experience now that the era of slavery is long past. James jumps back and forth in time in a unique way, which sometimes leaves loose ends. However, I admire writers who break norms, and I got used to his unique style without any issues.

Jones's writing is a refreshing and stimulating breath of fresh air in terms of imagination and technique. He creates a purely fictional town that feels incredibly real. It may seem a stretch to think that any Black people owned as many slaves or became as wealthy as Henry Townsend, but the point he makes is just as valid on a smaller scale.

I was immediately hooked on his writing from the first page with this passage: Moses closed his eyes and bent down and took a pinch of the sail and ate it with no more thought than if it were a spot of cornbread. He worked the dirt around in his mouth and swallowed, leaning his head back and opening his eyes in time to see the strip of sun fade to dark blue and then to nothing. He was the only man in the realm, slave or free, who ate dirt, but while the bondage women, particularly the pregnant ones, ate it for some incomprehensible need, for that something that ash cakes and apples and fatback did not give their bodies, he ate it not only to discover the strengths and weaknesses of the field but because the eating of it tied him to the only thing in his small world that meant almost as much as his own life.

We should feel a connection to the land, but it's horrifying to think of eating its dirt rather than its fruits so that your baby can survive, or to eat it because it could mean your life if you can't produce profitable crops as an overseer. He paints a vivid picture that haunts you as you continue to read.

Moses is an overseer for Henry Townsend and is probably one of the most complex figures in the novel. He's bewildered that a black man is able and willing to own him and other slaves, but he loves it at first because Henry treats him as a friend. However, Henry ends the friendship after his former master, William Robbins, discourages it. This change in status has a negative impact on both of them.

The Townsend plantation is just one scene in this novel that showcases the moral ambiguities caused by slavery. John Skiffington, the Sheriff of the town, is opposed to slavery. When given a young girl as a wedding present, he and his wife raise her like a daughter. Like Henry and his wife Caldonia, they believe they are protectors because they treat slaves better than some others. All the while, Skiffington's main job as Sheriff is to patrol for runaway slaves and return them to their masters, who will cut off an ear or worse once they are returned.

This novel includes a long list of characters, all of whom have meaningful roles in showing how slavery degrades the soul of anyone within its sphere. There are a few purely evil characters, but most feel, in part, like victims of an abominable system.

The multiple stories can be confusing at first. It is not a book to be consumed via audio or rushed through. It requires that pause and contemplation. At the back of the book, there is a list of characters. I wish I had known that when I started, but as always, you end up getting to know them without it. The narrative picks up about 1/3 of the way in and increasingly becomes more linear. With this change, it also becomes more horrific.

This novel is highly affecting. It makes you think about the past, present, and future and how malleable the human spirit is. It shows how otherwise good people can be corrupted when those in power dehumanize others in order to maintain or increase their power.

The Known World is a harsh novel about the last cries of a world on the verge of change. Set mainly in 1855 in Virginia, a few years before the outbreak of the Civil War, it tells from unprecedented angles the cruelty of slavery.

It depicts the lives of slaves, freed slaves, and free-born blacks.

Often compared to Gone with the Wind by critics, it shows how little critics understand some texts. In particular, The Known World hides modern narrative pivots, while explicitly having an apparently classic tone that is not actually classic.

Edward P. Jones plays with the ambiguity of the narrative, in a fully postmodern style, parodying the genre of historical narrative. To do this, he enacts the same failures of History, which is told by the victors, through the manipulation of time and the use of sources.

The quotations that sometimes appear in the text are actually fictions that merge an imagined historical present, that of the omniscient narrator, with an imagined historical past.

Jones' slaves are treated as property, from whom not only identity and freedom but also the future is denied. Through the manipulation of time, Jones restores the future and insists on humanity.

The literary artifice is hidden in an angled vision given by a detached tone, but which is actually deeply conscious of what it is narrating.

Bravo, Edward P. Jones - Bravo!

I finished this masterpiece with approximately 20 minutes remaining in the year 2013.

I'm eagerly looking forward to many more excellent reads in 2014, but they will have to be truly magnificent to share a bookshelf with this one.

Reading "The Known World" has brought me one step closer to my goal of reading all of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction award winners.

The link http://lineaday.blogspot.com/2009/03/... provides more information about the Pulitzer Prize.

The question "how (morally) could there have been black slave owners who were formerly slaves themselves?" makes one wonder if it is a predecessor to other questions such as "why is black-on-black crime so prevalent?" or "why do some black people (like Michael Jackson, a particularly well-known example) seem to be trying to escape their blackness by cloaking it in what is commonly accepted as whiteness?" or "is the survival Darwin spoke of primarily achieved by looking out for yourself, even if the most effective method of ascension is using your own people to reach and remain at the top?" These are all thought-provoking questions that arise from the exploration of this complex and important topic.

The well-known novel "The Bondwoman's Narrative" takes readers on a journey through the 1850s in Virginia, USA, and the surrounding cities during the era of slavery and the dark history that accompanied that period before the American Civil War.

Although the novel was not widely known at first, it achieved commercial success despite lacking the excitement of some other works. The author, Hannah Crafts, won recognition, and the novel was classified as a historical one. The author spent 10 years writing the story, which is highly realistic and leans towards the human side. There is no doubt about this when we know that John is the only son of a cook and a maid in a hotel. His mother worked in various jobs to support him, and his father disappeared when he was young. Although his mother could not read or write, she instilled a love of learning in him. John's behavior in the field of literature was remarkable, and he joined the teaching faculty in the English Department of George Washington University in 2010 to focus on creative writing.

The novel begins with a quote from Edward B. Jones: "My soul has often wondered how I could have endured all things."

In the first few pages of the novel, it mentions the statistics of Manchester, the largest county in Virginia in 1840:

Free: 2,191

Free blacks: 142

Native Americans: 136

Slaves: 2,191

The large number of slaves was because they were either servants or worked in the fields. The novel generally touches on free blacks who owned slaves and how Augusta Townshend bought her freedom and then worked hard to buy the freedom of her husband and son, who was kidnapped to work as a slave. Later, he becomes the freed slave (Henry) who buys land from his former master, improves it, and it becomes the land where many of the scenes and events in the novel take place. The characters that the author tries to describe, their way of life, the methods of torture and punishment they endured, which are close to savagery, and the nightly patrols that were established during the tenure of the new sheriff (John Scuffington) with a group of men, who meet their fate at the hands of his cousin in a bloody scene. The debtors who are indebted, and the simple church where the priest focuses on the basics rather than the depth. These are some of the terrible scenes where (Elias) flees, and when he is caught, his ear is cut off by one of the men on the nightly patrol (the Native American - Auden), who will later become the overseer of the workers after (Moses) flees, who was the overseer of the workers and helped his family, and Alice, who feigns madness when she flees.

Jones also mentions the African American (Anderson Fraser), who had a conversation with (Fern), the teacher who studied free blacks, and the material she wrote about "the wonders and oddities of the South, the cotton economy," and which achieved success later and was closer to a series.

The events then accelerate until we reach the last chapter, a letter from the brother (Calvin) to his sister (Calendonia), in which he mentions what happened to him personally on April 12, 1861, which is the same day the American Civil War began. He does not mention the events of the war but rather personal matters and his life.

Documentary film about the history of slavery in America

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDukq...

Although this is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, I have to say that I am rather disappointed.

This work had the potential to be an epic masterpiece in writing, but unfortunately, it fell short in many aspects.

The non-linear approach to the story and the way the events unfold is a complete disaster. The transitions between different time periods are either sloppy or non-existent, making it extremely difficult for the reader to follow the plot.

As a result, it becomes hard to keep track of the characters and their interactions with each other in a consistent manner, especially with the author's writing style.

Moreover, the unexpected "future historical" passages seem unnecessary and rather distracting. They disrupt the flow of the story and add little value to the overall narrative.

Personally, I am not a fan of the author's choppy prose or storytelling. It lacks the smoothness and elegance that I would expect from a great work of literature.

Simply put, if the author had stuck to the original linear plot (as he himself disclosed in a postscript interview, sigh!) and removed certain passages, this novel could have been an absolute classic.

However, as it stands now, it is just an average work that fails to live up to its potential.

My well-read mother-in-law referred this one to me.

It is truly fascinating and well-written. It can be regarded as a modern-day Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The concept of freed Blacks owning slaves turns many of the justifications for slavery on their head.

From the argument of the inferior black man to God’s disapproval of the race, all these traditional justifications are challenged.

This book is touching, depressing, and exciting all at the same time. I simply couldn’t put it down.

I have yet to reconcile my belief and patriotism in America with the despicable practice of slavery that endured for over 100 years.

This is a topic that really intrigues me and makes me think deeply about the complex history of this nation.

How could such a practice exist for so long in a country that宣扬 freedom and equality?

It makes me question the true meaning of these values and how they were applied in the past.

This book has opened my eyes to a side of American history that I may have overlooked or taken for granted.

It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the true nature of slavery and its impact on American society.

Edward P. Jones's The Known World is an incredibly complex and multidimensional story.

Set in fictional Manchester County, Virginia, during the antebellum period, it delves into the intricate web of relationships among slaves, Indians, black and white masters, patrollers, husbands, and wives.

The story is catalyzed by the death of Henry Townsend, a former slave mentored by William Robbins, the county's most powerful man. Robbins has a white wife and children, as well as a black mistress and children, and his preference for the black family is no secret.

Henry's father saves for nearly fifteen years to buy his family's freedom, but Henry is deeply influenced by Robbins. After being purchased by his father, he reluctantly leaves the plantation but often returns.

Growing into a headstrong young man, Henry purchases land near Robbins and, against his parents' wishes, buys slaves for his farm.

When Henry dies young, his widow, Caldonia, is overcome with grief, and the "known world" of Manchester County begins to unravel. Slaves run away, and Caldonia hires white and Indian patrollers.

The situation becomes even more complex with Caldonia's affair with her black overseer and the illegal capture and sale of Henry's father back into slavery.

The author's storytelling style is fascinating, as he reveals a character's entire history before they act in the present, allowing the reader to understand their insecurities, motivation, and vulnerabilities.

The book is filled with numerous interesting and engaging characters, and Jones provides an excellent portrayal of the slaves' interconnections and mindset on Henry's plantation.

The Known World is a thought-provoking and worthwhile read that offers a glimpse into a world shaped by the institution of slavery.

This was the final assigned reading for my Introduction to Fiction class, and it was truly outstanding.

The omniscient third-person narrator initially requires some adaptation, but once you immerse yourself in that voice, the book becomes magnificent.

There are so many remarkable characters who inhabit Jones’ fictional Virginia county. The discussions we have had about this book in class have been truly incredible.

When contemplating the “Great American Novel,” “The Known World” should most definitely be included in that conversation.

It offers a profound and engaging exploration of various themes and aspects of American society and history.

The author’s skill in creating a vivid and complex world is evident throughout the book.

It is a work that leaves a lasting impression and invites further analysis and reflection.

Overall, it was a wonderful reading experience that I would highly recommend to others.

— Chris Arnone


from The Best Books We Read In December: http://bookriot.com/2015/12/23/riot-r...

Someone once told me that he felt this was the perfect novel. I think he might be right. This novel seems to have all the elements that make a great story. The plot is engaging and full of twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The characters are well-developed and complex, each with their own unique personalities and motives. The writing style is beautiful and流畅, making it a pleasure to read. It explores deep themes such as love, loss, and redemption, and makes the reader think about their own life and values. Overall, I believe that this novel is a masterpiece and well-deserving of the title of "perfect".

Allora qua c'è un problema. L'inizio. L'inizio di questo libro è incomprensibile. Il suo stile è confusionario e, come se non bastasse, ci sono nomi su nomi. Tu ti ritrovi a non capire nulla, a non capire chi ha fatto cosa, cosa sta succedendo a questo personaggio, ma poi chi è questo? Da dove salta fuori? Ma non era morto? O era vivo e non ho capito? O sto facendo confusiona tra presente, passato, futuro e congiuntivo? Ecco. Mi facevo un giro in lavatrice e ne uscivo meno confusa.

Poi un po' alla volta le cose si assestano. Mi sono capita con i nomi e con lo stile. Soprattutto lo stile ora, alla fine, è quello che mi ha infastidito meno. Tuttavia, la questione dei troppi personaggi secondo me rimane. A una certa fase, non ho più avuto problemi nel distinguerli, ma non mi fregava nulla di nessuno. C'è stato un momento in cui sono rimasta male per una cosa che è successa, ma di base questo libro non mi ha fatto affezionare a nessuno e questo rimane un grande difetto per quelli che sono i miei gusti.

Di libri sul tema ce ne sono tanti. Questo secondo me non è tra i migliori, nonostante abbia vinto il Pulitzer. Forse per altri potrebbe essere un capolavoro, ma per me non ha raggiunto quel livello.