Let Us Descend

by Jesmyn Ward
Let Us Descend cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Historical Fiction
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Paperback • £9.99
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Technical
  • ID: 2575
  • Added: 2025-10-15
  • Updated: 2025-10-16
  • ISBN: 9781982104498
  • Publisher: Simon and Schuster
  • Published: 2023-10-24
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Let Us Descend takes readers on a harrowing journey from the rice fields of the Carolinas to the slave markets of New Orleans and into the heart of a Louisiana sugar plantation. This powerful narrative delves into the lives of enslaved individuals, revealing the resilience and humanity that endured amidst unimaginable hardship. The book is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and a stark reminder of a dark chapter in history. /n/nWritten with vivid detail and emotional depth, this novel offers a poignant exploration of the slave experience, capturing the essence of survival and resistance. It is a story that will leave a lasting impact, urging readers to reflect on the past and its enduring consequences.

Reviews
Englewood Review · 2024-01-12
profound 4.00

The love among the enslaved people is both great and terrible, a constant presence despite the circumstances.

The reviewer emphasizes the profound and complex nature of love depicted in the novel, noting that it is both great and terrible. This love is a constant presence among the enslaved people, regardless of their circumstances. The reviewer appreciates the depth and emotional resonance of this theme, which adds a layer of richness to the story.

Quick quotes

    The love that connects the enslaved people in this novel is both great and terrible.

    It is never absent, no matter the circumstances.

    This novel explores the complexities of love and survival in the face of unimaginable hardship.

Goodreads · 2023-10-24
heart-wrenching 4.50

The novel is beautifully rendered and heart-wrenching, filled with transcendent love and harrowing experiences.

The reviewer finds the novel to be a beautifully rendered and heart-wrenching reimagining of American slavery. They highlight the searching and harrowing nature of the story, which is replete with transcendent love. The emotional depth and raw portrayal of the characters' experiences are particularly noted, making it a powerful read.

Quick quotes

    Let Us Descend is a reimagining of American slavery, as beautifully rendered as it is heart-wrenching.

    Searching, harrowing, replete with transcendent love.

    This novel is a powerful and emotional journey that stays with the reader long after the last page.

The Guardian · 2023-10-22
potent 3.50

The novel maintains a strong start and conclusion, but the middle section feels sluggish. The deep South setting enhances the story's potency.

The reviewer appreciates the novel's ability to start and end strongly, noting that many books struggle with a sagging middle. They highlight the deep South setting as particularly effective, creating a backdrop that amplifies the story's impact. The novel's pacing issues are noted, but the overall setting and structure are praised for their ability to draw the reader in and maintain tension.

Quick quotes

    Too many novels dawdle and sag in the middle, drooping between the tautness of an intriguing start and the firmness of a dramatic conclusion.

    It is especially potent when set against the backdrop of the deep south, a landscape of watery, hot, lethal murk that Ward has always been able to capture.

    The novel maintains a strong start and conclusion, but the middle section feels sluggish.

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