Colson Whitehead Books

Colson Whitehead, acclaimed author of The Underground Railroad, explores a dark chapter of American history through the harrowing tale of two boys at a reform school in 1960s Florida. Elwood Curtis, inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., believes he deserves a better life. Raised by his loving grandmother, he is on the brink of attending a local black college when a single mistake lands him at The Nickel Academy, which purports to offer moral and intellectual training. However, the reality is a nightmare of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, where corrupt officials profit from the suffering of the boys. Elwood clings to Dr. King's message of love and resilience, but his friend Turner views the world differently, believing that survival requires adopting the very cruelty they face. This clash of ideals between Elwood's hope and Turner's pragmatism culminates in a choice with lasting consequences. Drawing from the true history of a Florida reform school that operated for over a century, this narrative is a poignant exploration of injustice and resilience, illuminating the ongoing struggles within the United States.

La 4e de couv. indique : "Cora is a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia, an existence made even more hellish by her status as an outcast among her fellow Africans. And she is approaching womanhood, where greater pain and danger awaits. So when Caesar, a slave recently arrived from Virginia, tells her about the Underground Railroad, Cora takes the momentous decision to acompany him on his escape to the North."

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

Ray Carney is seen as an upstanding furniture salesman on 125th Street, building a life for his family while expecting their second child. Despite the disapproval of his in-laws and their cramped apartment, he maintains a façade of normalcy. However, Carney's background reveals ties to a lineage of criminals, and financial pressures lead him to overlook the origins of items his cousin Freddie brings to the store. When Freddie gets involved in a robbery at the Hotel Theresa, he drags Ray into a dangerous world as the fence for stolen goods. The heist goes awry, forcing Ray to engage with a new clientele of corrupt cops and local criminals. This situation ignites a conflict within him between his aspirations as a legitimate businessman and the darker impulses of his heritage. As he navigates this treacherous double life, Ray uncovers the true power dynamics in Harlem. He must find a way to survive, protect his cousin, and secure his share of the heist while keeping up appearances as a reliable furniture dealer. The narrative unfolds in a richly depicted early 1960s Harlem, blending elements of family saga, crime, humor, and social commentary, ultimately serving as a tribute to the vibrant community.

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.

The marvellously inventive, genre-bending, noir-inflected debut novel from the author of The Underground Railroad.

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

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.

In this wry take on the post-apocalyptic horror novel, a pandemic has devastated the planet. The plague has sorted humanity into two types: the uninfected and the infected, the living and the living dead

EVERY GOOD BOOK CONTAINS A WORLD FAR DEEPER than the surface of its pages. The characters and its world come alive, and even after the last page of the book is closed, the story still lives on, inciting questions and curiosity. Conversation Starters is peppered with questions designed to bring us beneath the surface of the page and invite us into this world that continues to lives on. These questions can be used to… • Foster a deeper understanding of the book • Promote an atmosphere of discussion for groups • Assist in the study of the book, either individually or corporately • Explore unseen realms of the book as never seen before Disclaimer : This book you are about to enjoy is an independent resource to supplement the original book, enhancing your experience of The Underground Railroad. If you have not yet purchased a copy of the original book, please do before purchasing this unofficial Conversation Starters . Read it on your PC, Mac, iOS or Android smartphone, tablet and Kindle devices.

A first collection of the website cartoonist's observations on the war on terrorism and other contemporary issues critiques such subjects as the anthrax mailings, Enron, the Office for Homeland Security, and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Original. 40,000 first printing.

Die KRACHKULTUR bringt bahnbrechende Literatur aus der ganzen Welt. Große Autoren und neue Stimmen. Leise und laute. Zu heiklen Themen wie Heimat und Sexismus, und zu den schönen Momenten im Leben, die im Alltag untergehen. Die spannende Literaturzeitschrift für heute. Jedes Heft sorgt für Debatten, von FAZ bis Neues Deutschland. Die Süddeutsche sagt, die KRACHKULTUR tanzt „niemandes Pfeife nach“. FAZ Woche nennt sie „ein kleines Mirakel“. Der Bayerische Rundfunk mahnt: „Nicht versäumen!“ Für das Hamburger Abendblatt ist die Krachkultur gar „Pflichtlektüre für Literaturkenner“. Und Welt kompakt urteilt: „Es gibt in KRACHKULTUR kaum einen Beitrag, sei es Gedicht, Story oder Essay, der sich nicht der Lektüre lohnte.“ Die KRACHKULTUR wird mit Texten die Welt nicht aus den Angeln heben – aber sie rüttelt sie manchmal gehörig durch. Im aktuellen Heft steht ein Interview mit Colson Whitehead, der für Underground Railroad und Die Nickel Boys gleich zweimal den Pulitzer-Preis erhielt. Außerdem geht es um das Frauenbild im Deutschrap, ein Violine spielendes Wunderkind in der DDR, Beethovens Sterbezimmer und einen mehr oder weniger echten Tag im Leben von Bob Dylan. Mit dabei sind Skandalautor Tom Kummer, Pop-Literat Eckhart Nickel, der große englische Lyriker Philip Larkin und Bestseller-Biologe Josef H. Reichholf.

Colson Whitehead gioca a carte da sempre. Piccole poste tra amici, perlopiù scrittori con cui vince facilmente grazie alla sua «faccia da poker». Quando «Grantland», una rivista sportiva, si offre di pagargli l'iscrizione alle World Series di Texas Hold'em di Las Vegas, capisce però che deve fare sul serio. Cosí si sottopone a un duro allenamento per resistere ai sette giorni di torneo che lo aspettano, alla tensione e ai buffet dei casinò. La nobile arte del bluff è il racconto della sua immersione in un mondo che finora abbiamo conosciuto solo tramite la Tv. E una riflessione, tanto caustica quanto divertente, sull'America di oggi, la depressione e il peso dei nostri fallimenti.

Lässig, böse, humorvoll – der neue Roman von Colson Whitehead über die wilden Siebziger im schwarzen New York - die Fortsetzung des Bestsellers »Harlem Shuffle« Ray Carney will von krummen Geschäften nichts mehr wissen. Er hält sich raus aus dem täglichen Chaos New Yorks, wo Gangster sich Schießereien liefern und die Black Liberation Army zum bewaffneten Kampf aufruft. Wäre da nicht seine Tochter May mit dem schier unerfüllbaren Wunsch nach einem Ticket für das Konzert der Jackson Five. Ray muss sein altes Netzwerk aktivieren – auf die Gefahr hin, sich selbst wieder zu verstricken. Als in Harlem ganze Wohnblocks in Flammen aufgehen, beauftragt er Pepper, der wie kein zweiter die Regeln des Spiels kennt, um für Gerechtigkeit zu sorgen. Whiteheads grandios unterhaltsamer Roman über das schwarze New York der wilden Siebziger ist ein großes Sittengemälde Amerikas.

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

Colson Whitehead, al cărui roman Ruta subterană, încununat cu Pulitzer Prize, e tradus în peste 40 de țări, a avut un debut fulminant, ingenios și de o originalitate izbitoare. Romanul Intuiționista a apărut în 1999 și a fost comparat cu Catch-22 de Joseph Heller, V de Thomas Pynchon și Ochiul cel mai albastru de Toni Morrison. A primit Quality Paperback Book Club New Voices Award și a fost finalist la PEN/Hemingway Award. Provocator, de un umor subversiv livrat cu maximă gravitate, Intuiționista îi are ca protagoniști pe inspectorii de ascensoare dintr-un oraș american semănând cu New Yorkul, într-o perioadă nedefinită. Alegorie a rasei, a societății moderne, sau pur și simplu a naturii umane, cartea jonglează cu procedee stilistice și structurale ale romanului noir, ale genului detectivistic, ale criticii sociale naturaliste, chiar ale distopiei. Whitehead creează o lume perfect credibilă pornind de la elemente aparent neverosimile, un fel de labirint borgesian în care strălucește Lila Mae Watson, una dintre cele mai fascinante eroine din ficțiunea contemporană.