The Underground Railroad

by Colson Whitehead
The Underground Railroad cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Historical Fiction
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Paperback • £10.99
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Format • £35.14
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Technical
  • ID: 739
  • Added: 2025-09-19
  • Updated: 2026-01-11
  • ISBN: 9780385537049
  • Publisher: Anchor
  • Published: 2016-08-02
  • Formats: 48
  • Reviews: 4

In Colson Whitehead's ingenious novel, Cora, a slave on a Georgia cotton plantation, escapes with Caesar, a fellow slave, via the Underground Railroad—a secret network of actual tracks and tunnels. As they journey from state to state, Cora encounters strange yet familiar iterations of her world, each stop revealing the horrors of the antebellum era. Whitehead masterfully weaves together Cora's harrowing flight with the broader saga of American history, from the brutal abduction of Africans to the unfulfilled promises of the present day. /n/n The Underground Railroad is not just a gripping tale of one woman's will to escape bondage but also a powerful meditation on the shared history of all Americans. Whitehead's vivid and imaginative storytelling brings to life the terrors and complexities of the past, offering a profound exploration of identity, freedom, and the enduring struggle for justice.

Reviews
Your Impossible Voice · 2026-01-11
intense 4.00

The book is an intense genre-mashing creation with far too true lessons. The reviewer finds it to be a powerful and thought-provoking read that blends fiction with historical truths.

This reviewer describes the book as an intense genre-mashing creation that blends fiction with historical truths. They highlight the powerful and thought-provoking nature of the narrative, praising the book's ability to convey the horrors of slavery in a way that is both compelling and emotionally impactful. The reviewer also notes that the book is a demanding read, but one that is well worth the effort. They find the lessons presented in the book to be far too true, making it a powerful and important read.

Quick quotes

    The Underground Railroad is fiction, an intense genre-mashing creation, but its lessons are far too true.

    The book is a powerful and thought-provoking read that blends fiction with historical truths.

    The lessons presented in the book are far too true, making it a powerful and important read.

Righter of Words · 2019-09-28
devastating 4.00

The book is described as a brilliant yet devastating glimpse into America's dark past, with strong themes and well-developed characters.

They found the book to be a brilliant but devastating exploration of America's dark past. The reviewer appreciated the subtle yet strong themes and the well-developed characters, which made the story deeply impactful. The book's portrayal of the horrors of slavery is both powerful and haunting, leaving a lasting impression on the reader. The reviewer also noted the book's ability to balance historical accuracy with a compelling narrative.

Quick quotes

    This book is a brilliant but devastating glimpse into America's dark past.

    The characters are great and the themes subtle but strong.

    The book's portrayal of the horrors of slavery is both powerful and haunting.

The Book Habit · 2019-03-08
powerful 3.50

The novel is a demanding read that confronts the realities of slavery without sugarcoating the horrors, making it a powerful and thought-provoking experience.

The reviewer describes the book as a demanding read, which is expected given its unflinching portrayal of slavery's realities. They appreciate the novel's refusal to pacify the horrors of the past, making it a powerful and thought-provoking experience. The reviewer finds the narrative to be both challenging and enlightening, highlighting the author's courage in tackling such a difficult subject matter.

Quick quotes

    The Underground Railroad is a demanding read, as one would expect of any novel that denies pacified descriptions of slavery's realities.

    The novel's unflinching portrayal of slavery's horrors is both powerful and thought-provoking.

    The narrative is challenging and enlightening, highlighting the author's courage.

The Guardian · 2016-10-09
brilliant 4.50

The book is praised for its extraordinary prose and thrilling narrative, while also delivering uncomfortable home truths about slavery. The genre-bending approach is highlighted as a standout feature.

This reviewer was captivated by the book's thrilling and genre-bending tale of escape from slavery. They appreciated the extraordinary prose and the way the book delivers uncomfortable home truths about the harsh realities of slavery. The reviewer found the narrative to be both luminous and furious, making it a powerful and memorable read. The blend of historical fiction with elements of magical realism is seen as a bold and inventive choice that enhances the story's impact.

Quick quotes

    This thrilling, genre-bending tale of escape from slavery in the American deep south contains extraordinary prose and uncomfortable home truths.

    Luminous, furious, wildly inventive.

    Whitehead’s imaginative approach breathes new life into the history of slavery and resistance.

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