The Book of Harlan by Bernice L. McFadden

McFadden: 'McFadden has created a magical, fantastic novel.This is a startling, beautifully written piece of work.' ? Dennis Lehane, author of World Gone By 'McFadden works a kind of miracle?not only do her characters retain their appealing humanity their story eclipses the bonds of history to offer continuous surprises.Beautiful and evocative.' ? Jesmyn Ward, New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice) 'Read it aloud. The Book of Harlan blends family history and world history, fact and fiction, to revisit a haunting chapter from the past.' ? Hello Beautiful, #BlackWomenRead: 17 Books by Black Women You Need In Your Life This Spring Praise for Gathering of Waters by Bernice L. McFadden's latest novel follows Harlan and his friend Lizard, two black musicians who are captured by the Nazis during WWII and sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp. ' ? Publishers Weekly, Spring 2016 Announcements 'From Macon, Georgia, to Harlem, and from the City of Lights to Weimar, Germany, Bernice L. Playing with themes of divine justice and the suffering of the righteous, McFadden presents a remarkably crisp portrait of one average man's extraordinary bravery in the face of pure evil.' ? Booklist, Starred review 'Through this character portrait of Harlan, McFadden has constructed a vivid, compelling narrative that makes historical fiction an accessible, literary window into the African-American past and some of the contemporary dilemmas of the present.' ? Publishers Weekly 'During WWII, two African-American musicians are captured by the Nazis in Paris and imprisoned at the Buchenwald concentration camp, in the latest from the author of Sugar and Loving Donovan.

Partly set in the Jim Crow South, the novel succeeds in showing the prevalence of racism all across the country?whether implemented through institutionalized mechanisms or otherwise. 'McFadden packs a powerful punch with tight prose and short chapters that bear witness to key events in early twentieth-century history: both World Wars, the Great Depression, and the Great Migration.

The Book of Harlan by Bernice L. McFadden