The Man Who Lived Underground

By: Richard Wright

Narrated by: Ethan Herisse

Length: 6 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times Bestseller

One of the Best Books of 2021 by Time magazine, the Chicago Tribune, the Boston Globe and Esquire, and one of Oprah’s 15 Favorite Books of the Year

Audiobook narrated by Ethan Herisse

“The Man Who Lived Underground reminds us that any ‘greatest writers of the 20th century’ list that doesn’t start and end with Richard Wright is laughable. It might very well be Wright’s most brilliantly crafted, and ominously foretelling, book.” —Kiese Laymon

A major literary event: an explosive, previously unpublished novel about race and violence in America by the legendary author of Native Son and Black Boy

Fred Daniels, a Black man, is picked up by the police after a brutal double murder and tortured until he confesses to a crime he did not commit. After signing a confession, he escapes from custody and flees into the city’s sewer system.

This is the devastating premise of this scorching novel, a never-before-seen masterpiece by Richard Wright. Written between his landmark books Native Son (1940) and Black Boy (1945), at the height of his creative powers, it would see publication in Wright's lifetime only in drastically condensed and truncated form, and ultimately be included in the posthumous short story collection Eight Men.

Now, for the first time, by special arrangement with the author’s estate, the full text of the work that meant more to Wright than any other (“I have never written anything in my life that stemmed more from sheer inspiration”) is published in the form that he intended, complete with his companion essay, “Memories of My Grandmother.” Malcolm Wright, the author’s grandson, contributes an afterword.

©2020 Richard Wright (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

wonderful book

My first book by the author. Will definitely read it again. Enjoyable after almost 80 years.

it was just ok. could have been epic

wanted more out of this. no character development at all and the 2 hours at the end not story related was skipped. could've been more story

If you enjoy the author Richard Wright...

This is an excellent book by Richard Wright. The story is unique but all too familiar when we discuss policing problems. Interesting discussions on faith. Although the protagonist seems to abandon his faith, never give up your faith in the Savior Jesus Christ. Wright’s discussion on surrealism is informative and educational.

Must read

Richard wright at one point was considered the Premier black author of the United States. This new found unabridged manuscript is coupled with memories of his grandmother and also a very insightful after word by Malcolm wright. the writing is authentic and continues to be amazingly relevant 80 years later

Superb. I shall read it again.

I recommend this book highly. I should note that this novel takes place in an American racist city and a black man is accused of a terrible crime that he did not commit. That part of the story can be found on a book cover. So, without giving anything away, this is a book that will teach. It doesn't read, or feel, like some detective or suspense story. There is almost a dream-like quality to it. It's a bit hallucinogenic and other worldly. Even so, the story is important, the perspective is important and where it ends up is important. I happen to be white. My best friend for more than 50 years is black. During the hundreds of times we have visited, he has shared stories about how he and his friends and family had been treated by the authorities. I was always interested in what he shared, but I did not have that experience. Even so, I had heard so many stories over the years, that I can imagine the total unfairness of being treated so different because of skin color. This book, both real and also a psychological study of the main character, gave me another view of racism in America. I will share this title with my friend as I am hoping he will read it, too, and tell me how it impacts him.

So, is it worth reading. Yes. The only caveat is that you should cound on reading all of the end notes as that helps you get even more from the novel. Once you see what inspired Richard Wright to pen this novel, it takes on more than what you'll get out of just one reading.

This was very much worth reading.

Absolutely Astounding

The Man Who Lived Under Ground is a significant story by itself, and I recommend it to be read by everyone interested in the writings of black authors. However, it is the Memories of My Grandmother which reveals Wright's brilliance as a writer and an intellectual. His theories about writing, about abstraction, surrealism, and the conditioning of a a character or of a real person are visionary. Writers should study Memories of My Grandmother as a challenge to write. It should be studied as a tutorial. That will be my intention. I haven't heard ideas so powerful and overwhelming in a very long time. They are breathtaking.

Good for you

I can’t say that I enjoy this type of story because it is at least in part about how awful life can be. It is fully interesting. I got a new perspective on being a reader by listening to the author’s comments. The comments are interesting both coming from a black man and from an author.

Profound important and a very good read

The Man Who Lived Underground is one of the most important books of my lifetime...perhaps it will strike you that way also.

interesting piece

a little difficult to get into at first but I enjoyed it overall. the reader was adequate but not very engaging and a little on the dull side. I mean Richard Wright is a bit of a downer already so I would think the reader should breath a little more life into the character somehow. I could be reaching though as he did do a decent job with the voices.

Just wasn't for me

I love Richard Wright's work, so I was eager to read this one. For me personally, I didn't connect as well and deeply as I have with some of his other titles. I had a heard time fully grasping the revolution that the protagonist came to and I found both the opening and ending quite disturbing. this one just wasn't for me.