The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
This novel follows the journey of Cora, a young slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia, who escapes and embarks on a journey towards freedom via the Underground Railroad. The book presents a literal version of the historical Underground Railroad, portraying it as a physical network of tunnels and tracks beneath the Southern soil. As Cora travels from state to state, she encounters different worlds and harsh realities, each one illuminating the various forms of oppression Black people faced in America. The narrative is a brutal exploration of America's history of slavery and racism, and a testament to the unyielding spirit of those who fought against it.
The 670th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 2016
- Nationality
- American
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 300-400
- Words
- 87,000
- Original Language
- English
- Alternate Titles
-
El Ferrocarril Subterráneo
Il treno sotterraneo
La ferrovia sotterranea
La voie ferrée souterraine
O Trem Subterrâneo
Der Untergrundbahn
De ondergrondse spoorweg
Den underjordiske jernbanen
Den underjordiska järnvägen
Den underjordiske jernbane
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 24 lists:
- 1st on The 40 Best Novels of the 2010s (Paste Magazine)
- 7th on 100 Best Books of the 21st Century (NY Times)
- 13th on Readers Pick Their 100 Best Books of the 21st Century (NY Times)
- 15th on The 20 Best Novels of the Decade (2010s) (Literary Hub)
- 30th on The 100 best books of the 21st century (The Guardian)
- 67th on Truelit's 100 Best Books of the Quarter Century (/r/truelit)
- 73rd on 100 Best Books of the 21st Century (Book Enthusiast Substack)
- 1499th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 1544th on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction (Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence)
- A Century of Reading (Lithub)
- The Ultimate Book Bucket List: The 75 Best Books Of All Time (Refinery29)
- Boston Public Library: Top Fiction and Non-Fiction Books of the 2010s (Boston Public Library)
- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List (1,000 Books to Read Before You Die(Book))
- Arthur C. Clarke Award (Arthur C. Clarke Award)
- The 10 Best Books Through Time (New York Times)
- 200 Books That Shaped 200 Years of Literature (The Center for Fiction)
- 52 Award-Winning Titles Every Book Lover Should Read (Book)
- 70 Classic Booker Prize-Nominated Novels, Recommended by our Readers (Booker Prize Library Readers)
- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers (Parade)
- National Book Award - Fiction (National Book Foundation)
- Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (Pulitzer Prize)
- The 100 Novels You Must Read in Your Lifetime (Esquire)
- Best Books of the Decade(2010-2020) (Chicago Tribune)