Colson Whitehead Boeken

Van een van de meest ambitieuze, baanbrekende schrijvers van dit moment is er nu De ondergrondse spoorweg, een alternatieve geschiedenis van de slavernij in Amerika, en een beheerste, doch woedende allegorie van de black struggle. Cora is slavin op een katoenplantage in Georgia. Haar helse leven staat op het punt om nog erger te worden: de wrede eigenaar heeft zijn oog op haar laten vallen. Ze besluit om te vluchten, en met hulp van de Ondergrondse Spoorweg (een clandestien netwerk van antislavernijactivisten) begint ze een lange, huiveringwekkende reis door de zuidelijke staten van Amerika richting het vrije Noorden, met de slavenpatrouille op haar hielen. Tot zover een verhaal zoals 12 jaar slaaf. Maar in het universum van Colson Whitehead is de ‘ondergrondse spoorweg’ letterlijk een tunnelstelsel dwars door Amerika heen, en leest Cora’s reis als een macabere Alice in Wonderland. In alle zuidelijke staten die ze aandoet wordt Cora geconfronteerd met nóg groteskere vormen van racisme en terreur.

Persoonlijk getinte schets van het leven in de stad New York.

As the Civil Rights movement reaches the black enclave of Frenchtown in segregated Tallahassee, Elwood Curtis embraces Dr. Martin Luther King’s belief that he is "as good as anyone." Abandoned by his parents but guided by his grandmother, Elwood is set to enroll in a local black college. However, one innocent mistake leads him to the Nickel Academy, a juvenile reformatory that claims to provide "physical, intellectual and moral training" to help boys become "honorable and honest men." In reality, it is a nightmarish place where sadistic staff abuse the students, corrupt officials steal resources, and any boy who resists risks disappearing. Faced with this brutal environment, Elwood clings to Dr. King's message: "Throw us in jail and we will still love you." In contrast, his friend Turner believes Elwood is overly idealistic, arguing that survival requires cunning and avoidance of trouble. Their differing views create tension, culminating in a decision that will have lasting consequences. The boys' fates, shaped by the horrors of Jim Crow, will be determined by their experiences at the Nickel Academy.

Cora is a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia. When Caesar, a recent arrival from Virginia, tells her about the Underground Railroad, they decide to take a terrifying risk and escape. Though they manage to find a station and head north, they are being hunted. Their first stop is South Carolina, in a city that initially seems like a haven. But the city's placid surface masks an insidious scheme designed for its black denizens. And even worse: Ridgeway, the relentless slave catcher, is close on their heels. Forced to flee again, Cora embarks on a harrowing flight, state by state, seeking true freedom

Colson Whitehead, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, presents a captivating novel set in 1970s New York, depicting Harlem's vibrant yet gritty landscape. This darkly humorous story explores the challenges of urban life while delving into the deeper themes of family and connection.

Pure shimmering brilliance...One of the funniest books I've ever read' Gary Shteyngart

A brilliant, witty, and subtle novel, written in a most engaging style, with tremendous aptness of language and command of plot New York Review of Books

In a dazzlingly original work of nonfiction, award-winning novelist Colson Whitehead captures the exuberance, chaos, promise, and heartbreak of New York. This literary love song enchants anyone who has lived in or visited this iconic American city. Through a series of vignettes, meditations, and personal memories, Whitehead evokes the city’s inner and outer landscapes. He conveys the feelings of longtime residents and newcomers alike, portraying those who have conquered its challenges and those who struggle against its cruelties. His style mirrors New York’s multilayered essence, seamlessly shifting between third, first, and second person to weave individual voices into a jazzy composition that reflects the city’s experience. From a humorous take on arriving in New York for the first time to a lyrical meditation on how an unexpected rain shower transforms the city, Whitehead explores the ferocious battle of commuting and captures the plaintive notes of the lonely and dispossessed. He also highlights magical moments when the city seems to speak directly to you, inviting you to embrace its rhythms. This remarkable portrait of life in the big city is an unparalleled tribute to New York and a compelling introduction to one of today’s most exciting writers.

From the author of "The Intuitionist" comes a retelling of the legend of John Henry that sweeps across generations and cultures in a stunning, hilarious, and unsettling portrait of American society.