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.
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Second edition cover
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Author | Edward P. Jones |
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Cover artist | Cover design by Laura Blost, Cover photograph copyright Eudora Welty |
Language | English |
Genre | Historical, Novel |
Publisher | Amistad Press |
Publication date | September 2003 |
Publication place | United States |
Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
Pages | 400 pp |
ISBN | 0-06-055754-0 |
OCLC | 51519698 |
813/.54 21 | |
LC Class | PS3560.O4813 K58 2003 |
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]
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The Known World is told from the perspective of an omniscient narrator who does not voice judgment.[2]
The novel won a National Book Critics Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2004.[3][4] In 2005, it won the International Dublin Literary Award, one of the richest literary awards for a novel in the English language.[5] It was a finalist for the 2003 National Book Award.[6]
In 2009, the website The Millions polled 48 critics, writers, and editors; the panel voted The Known World the second best novel since 2000.[7] In 2015, the BBC polled American critics and ranked The Known World the "second greatest novel of the 21st century so far".[8][9]
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Preceded by | International Dublin Literary Award recipient 2005 |
Succeeded by |
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