Book Review: "The Prophets" by Robert Jones, Jr.
“The Prophets” by Robert Jones, Jr.
Bookshop | Kindle
Publisher Synopsis: A singular and stunning debut novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation, the refuge they find in each other, and a betrayal that threatens their existence.
Isaiah was Samuel's and Samuel was Isaiah's. That was the way it was since the beginning, and the way it was to be until the end. In the barn they tended to the animals, but also to each other, transforming the hollowed-out shed into a place of human refuge, a source of intimacy and hope in a world ruled by vicious masters. But when an older man--a fellow slave--seeks to gain favor by preaching the master's gospel on the plantation, the enslaved begin to turn on their own. Isaiah and Samuel's love, which was once so simple, is seen as sinful and a clear danger to the plantation's harmony.
With a lyricism reminiscent of Toni Morrison, Robert Jones, Jr., fiercely summons the voices of slaver and enslaved alike, from Isaiah and Samuel to the calculating slave master to the long line of women that surround them, women who have carried the soul of the plantation on their shoulders. As tensions build and the weight of centuries--of ancestors and future generations to come--culminates in a climactic reckoning, The Prophets masterfully reveals the pain and suffering of inheritance, but is also shot through with hope, beauty, and truth, portraying the enormous, heroic power of love.
Rating (out of 5): 4.75
Trigger Warnings: brutally realistic depictions of the Middle Passage and slavery, the n-word
Review: What a novel. I am extremely delayed in reviewing this, and I also did read it quite slowly. The prose nearly demands to be savored.
What I love about this book is that Robert Jones, Jr. said he wrote it because he saw that there had been no novels about Black queer enslaved people, and quotes Toni Morrison: “if you cannot find the book you wish to read, you must write it.” Jones has written a tour de force, and while it’s not quite a 5 for me, it’s incredibly moving and heartbreaking.
We meet Samuel and Isaiah and quickly understand that they share a deep bond. There are a number of secondary characters on the plantation whose POV we hear from as well—including the plantation owner, his wife, and their son. While this is primarily a love story, we can never (and should never) forget that it’s set against the very real, incredibly brutal backdrop of slavery. Interspersed throughout the novel are chapters from the POV of seven unnamed ancestors, which truly read like poetry.
I loved Samuel and Isaiah’s love, and each of the supporting enslaved characters provide more context and background as to life on the plantation. While each often chooses selfish acts, their motivations are usually clear, and Jones writes them compassionately.
Samuel and Isaiah’s love is the most radical act of resistance on the plantation, and of course, there is an incident which brings about the novel’s heartbreaking conclusion. Jones’ beautiful novel drives home how the patriarchy, capitalism, and white supremacy are and have always been engrained, and how slavery continues to corrupt the foundation of the U.S.
TL;DR: A truly stunning novel that showcases Black queer love against the cruelest possible backdrop—a Mississippi plantation. It reads like poetry, and while it’s at times tough to get through, it’s beautiful, heartbreaking, and reminds us that while slavery may have been abolished, its effects are still felt in America today.
If you liked this, try:
“The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead (Bookshop | Kindle)
“Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi (Bookshop | Kindle) (Elizabeth’s review here)
“The Great Believers” by Rebecca Makkai (Bookshop | Kindle) (my review here)
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