The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
This novel follows the journey of Cora, a young slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia, who escapes and embarks on a journey towards freedom via the Underground Railroad. The book presents a literal version of the historical Underground Railroad, portraying it as a physical network of tunnels and tracks beneath the Southern soil. As Cora travels from state to state, she encounters different worlds and harsh realities, each one illuminating the various forms of oppression Black people faced in America. The narrative is a brutal exploration of America's history of slavery and racism, and a testament to the unyielding spirit of those who fought against it.
The 1230th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 2016
- Nationality
- American
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 300-400
- Words
- 87,000
- Original Language
- English
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This book is on the following lists:
- 1st on The 40 Best Novels of the 2010s (Paste Magazine)
- 15th on The 20 Best Novels of the Decade (2010s) (Literary Hub)
- 30th on The 100 best books of the 21st century (The Guardian)
- 1200th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- The 10 Best Books Through Time (New York Times)
- Arthur C. Clarke Award (Arthur C. Clarke Award)
- Boston Public Library: Top Fiction and Non-Fiction Books of the 2010s (Boston Public Library)
- Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction (Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence)
- A Century of Reading (Lithub)
- The Ultimate Book Bucket List: The 75 Best Books Of All Time (Refinery29)
- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List (1,000 Books to Read Before You Die(Book))
- Best Books of the Decade(2010-2020) (Chicago Tribune)
- 200 Books That Shaped 200 Years of Literature (The Center for Fiction)
- Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (Pulitzer Prize)
- National Book Award - Fiction (National Book Foundation)
- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers (Parade)