Review: "The Known World" by Edward P. Jones

At the risk of sounding cynical, I do not think that a novel like Edward P. Jones monumental The Known World would get much love in such divisive political times. It was published in 2003, which now seems like ancient history, and I’m sure even back then its ideas, its bravery and daring were something to behold and perhaps maligned. But what can’t be dismissed is Jones’ unparalleled empathy towards his wide cast of characters, his delicate prose and his ability to make this story move both backward and forward at the same time that, while it takes some time to get used to, once it does the true brilliant heart of this book shines forth, taking a footnote from the greatest stain on this country’s history and crafting a historical epic that stands at the forefront of a short list of the greatest American novels and is surely one of the best books of the century so far. That footnote, to put it bluntly, is the fact of freed black slaves owning slaves themselves. I do not know the extent to which this occurred (I don’t feel it is my job as a reviewer of mostly fiction), but within the context of this story Jones uses it to build a very elaborate world, ask tough questions and really look upon a time long since past with the eyes and the gentleness of a modern person. The book begins with the death of Henry Townsend, a freed young black man who owns a successful plantation in Manchester County, Virginia. This singular act and person acts as a sort of satellite that the other characters orbit around. There is wife, Caledonia, unsure if she has the will power to run the plantation herself, Moses, Henry’s first purchased slave and arguably the most central character besides Henry, a man who is tired of life as a slave (and more than a little jealous of Henry) and John Skiffington, the sheriff of Manchester County who is conflicted about his feelings toward slavery and his need to uphold the law. These are just a few of the large cast that make up this book, which, as I said, seems to be going both backward and forward. There are many times when the narrative will take a breather and zero in on a minor character, describing their future, good or bad, like the fate of Rita, one of the slaves who was a surrogate mother to Henry when his parents, Augustus and Mildred are freed by William Robbins, the most successful plantation owner in Manchester County but Henry is not and Alice Night, the book’s enigma, a seemingly crazed woman whose presence feels more like a one person chorus than anything else and who I think is the key to unlocking the book’s intricacies. I can’t stress enough how well this works, making for an intriguing moral dilemma where characters like Skiffington, his employees Harvey Travis and the Cherokee Odeon Peoples, villains in a another work are seen as conflicted, fully formed beings, more victims of their time than cruel monsters. Simply put, you’d be hard pressed to find a more worthy modern classic than this astounding piece of fiction. 

Rating: 5/5