The Known World Explained

The Known World
Author:Edward P. Jones
Cover Artist:Cover design by Laura Blost, Cover photograph copyright Eudora Welty
Country:United States
Language:English
Genre:Historical, Novel
Publisher:Amistad Press
Release Date:September 2003
Media Type:Print (hardback & paperback)
Pages:400 pp
Isbn:0-06-055754-0
Dewey:813/.54 21
Congress:PS3560.O4813 K58 2003
Oclc:51519698

The Known World is a 2003 historical novel by Edward P. Jones. Set in Virginia during the antebellum era, it examines the issues regarding the ownership of Black slaves by both White and Black Americans.

The book was published to acclaim, which praised its story and Jones's prose. In particular, his ability to intertwine stories within stories received great praise from The New York Times.[1]

Synopsis

The Known World is told from the perspective of an omniscient narrator who does not voice judgment.[2]

Reception

According to Book Marks, the book received "positive" reviews based on five critic reviews with two being "rave" and two being "positive" and one being "mixed".[3] On Bookmarks November/December 2003 issue, a magazine that aggregates critic reviews of books, the book received a (4.00 out of 5) from based on critic reviews.[4]

Awards and nominations

The novel won a National Book Critics Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2004.[5] [6] In 2005, it won the International Dublin Literary Award, one of the richest literary awards for a novel in the English language.[7] It was a finalist for the 2003 National Book Award.[8]

In 2009, the website The Millions polled 48 critics, writers, and editors; the panel voted The Known World the second best novel since 2000.[9] In 2015, the BBC polled American critics and ranked The Known World the "second greatest novel of the 21st century so far".[10] [11] In 2024, the New York Times ranked it the 4th best book of the 21st century.[12]

References

  1. Web site: People Who Owned People. Vernon. John. 2003-08-31. The New York Times. 2016-09-29.
  2. Web site: The Guardian. Martin. Valerie. 2004-07-30. The Means of Evil. 2016-09-29.
  3. Web site: The Known World. 16 January 2024 . Book Marks.
  4. Web site: The Known World. 14 January 2023 . Bookmarks. https://web.archive.org/web/20150908123501/http://www.bookmarksmagazine.com/book-review/all-aunt-hagar-s-children/edward-p-jones . 8 Sep 2015.
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20060712101129/http://www.bookcritics.org/?go=pastAwards National Book Critics Circle Award past winners
  6. https://www.nytimes.com/ref/arts/05pulitzers-arts.html 'The Known World' Wins Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
  7. http://www.impacdublinaward.ie/2005/Winner.htm "The Known World by Edward P. Jones wins the 2005 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award"
  8. Web site: 2003 National Book Awards. National Book Foundation. 14 January 2014.
  9. Web site: The Millions : Best of the Millennium, Pros Versus Readers. The Millions. 25 September 2009 .
  10. Web site: Ciabattari . Jane . The 21st Century's 12 greatest novels . BBC.com . November 12, 2021.
  11. Web site: The 21st Century's 12 Greatest Novels by BBC - The Greatest Books . 2023-11-08 . thegreatestbooks.org.
  12. Web site: The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century . The New York Times . 16 July 2024 . 8 July 2024.

Further reading

External links

Interviews

Reviews

Misc.

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