The Prophets
Robert Jones, Jr.

The Prophets
Robert Jones, Jr.
A singular and stunning debut novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation, the refuge they find in each other, and a betrayal that threatens their existence.
Isaiah was Samuel’s and Samuel was Isaiah’s. That was the way it was since the beginning, and the way it was to be until the end. In the barn they tended to the animals, but also to each other, transforming the hollowed-out shed into a place of human refuge, a source of intimacy and hope in a world ruled by vicious masters. But when an older man - a fellow slave - seeks to gain favor by preaching the master’s gospel on the plantation, the enslaved begin to turn on their own. Isaiah and Samuel’s love, which was once so simple, is seen as sinful and a clear danger to the plantation’s harmony.
With a lyricism reminiscent of Toni Morrison, Robert Jones, Jr., fiercely summons the voices of slaver and enslaved alike, from Isaiah and Samuel to the calculating slave master to the long line of women that surround them, women who have carried the soul of the plantation on their shoulders. As tensions build and the weight of centuries-of ancestors and future generations to come-culminates in a climactic reckoning, The Prophets masterfully reveals the pain and suffering of inheritance, but is also shot through with hope, beauty, and truth, portraying the enormous, heroic power of love.
This item is not currently in-stock, but it’s available to order online.
Please note, our stock data is updated overnight, and availability may change throughout the day. Prices are subject to change without notice.
Sign in or become a Readings Member to add this title to a wishlist.

Beasts of a Little Land
$29.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Gardener
$32.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Swift and the Harrier
$32.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Absynthe
$32.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Termination Shock
$34.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Scorcher
$39.95Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Danged Black Thing
$29.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Our Happy Days
$32.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...