The Known World

By: Edward P. Jones

Narrated by: Kevin R. Free

In one of the most acclaimed novels in recent memory, Edward P. Jones, two-time National Book Award finalist, tells the story of Henry Townsend, a black farmer and former slave who falls under the tutelage of William Robbins, the most powerful man in Manchester County, Virginia. Making certain he never circumvents the law, Townsend runs his affairs with unusual discipline. But when death takes him unexpectedly, his widow, Caldonia, can't uphold the estate's order and chaos ensues. In a daring and ambitious novel, Jones has woven a footnote of history into an epic that takes an unflinching look at slavery in all of its moral complexities.

Performed by Kevin Free

Great atmosphere… But challenging to follow.

Please read this book for your own education! But I’ll be the first to admit I had trouble following the story because it jumps back-and-forth decades and generations without much warning, and has hundreds of characters which are therefore difficult to keep straight in your mind. I think the way to approach this book is to appreciate it for its exploration of the overall atmosphere of race relations in the south and as an exploration of the personal dynamics that can arise in the context of such bizarre and contradictory institutions as black slavery, and a black slave owning class. Fantastic performance by the reader.

Fascinating and extraordinary.

eye opening to learn the horrific lives people lived in this period of time. Extremely hard to understand a race of people could think and behave in such a manner.

Fascinating Story ...

Fascinating story with rich characters brought to life by Kevin Free. Listen - intently.

A Fascinating World

Very few people, black or white, would be familiar with this world since it is set in a world of slavery prior to the American Civil war and deals with *black* slave owners. That in itself is a fascinating backdrop that Edward P. Jones masterful utilizes along with the black dialect of the time. The author creates a richly textured story around multiple, intertwined lives within the *known world* that exists largely within the microcosm of the plantation and at most Manchester county. Without making too many proclamations about good and evil (which would have made it a bland read) Edward P. Jones creates characters that are not cleanly delineated or labeled much like real-life where people have their many shaded complexities. The only criticism I have is that it is difficult to follow the numerous characters as they are first introduced. The story does weave in and out of plots so you need to get used to this approach early on. Once you do, it's a great ride that keeps moving forward.

The Know World

This is a unique story written in a unique way. The author weaves a very mesmorizing story with unforgettable characters in an historic tale I was enthralled with!