What was the difference between the suffering of one and the suffering of many? The whole world was suffering and they didn’t care.”
“The Underground Railroad” is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that tells the story of a young slave girl’s journey to freedom via the Underground Railroad. Colson Whitehead’s writing is vivid and evocative, and he portrays the horrors of slavery and racism in a way that is both harrowing and humane.
“The Underground Railroad” is a historical fiction novel by Colson Whitehead that tells the story of Cora, a young slave girl who escapes from a Georgia plantation and embarks on a journey to freedom via the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad in this novel is depicted as a real railroad system with trains, tracks, and engineers that operate secretly to help slaves escape to the North.
As Cora travels from state to state, she encounters different forms of racism and oppression, from the open violence of slave catchers to the subtler racism of those who claim to be abolitionists. Despite these obstacles, Cora persists in her quest for freedom, even as she grapples with the traumas of her past and the uncertainty of her future.
Through Cora’s journey, Whitehead explores the complex history of slavery and racism in America, as well as the ongoing struggles for freedom and justice. Along the way, he introduces a cast of memorable characters, from fellow slaves to sympathetic abolitionists, and vividly portrays the landscape and culture of each state Cora passes through.
“Freedom was a thing that shifted as you looked at it, the way a forest is dense with trees up close but from outside, from the empty meadow, you see its true limits.”
Ultimately, “The Underground Railroad” is a powerful and provocative novel that challenges readers to confront the dark legacy of slavery in America and to imagine a better, more just future.
If you love “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi or “Beloved” by Toni Morrison, you’ll love Underground Railroad too.
Star Rating: ????????????.5/5
