The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

 The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead


A different version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:

-              https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E and   http://realini.blogspot.ro/

The Underground Railroad is a "real horror show".
This year's fabulous winner of both the Pulitzer and The National Book Award is narrative based on terrible facts.

The title refers to a real Underground Railroad that was built with tremendous effort and helped many slaves escape their horrible fates.

-          Who built this?

This is one question that is asked repeatedly and the answer is

-          Who built this country?

A reader may end this fabulous masterpiece with mixed feelings.
She or he may be both elated and appalled by the cruelty of slave owners and ordinary, "decent" folks.

The Underground Railroad represents an exceptional human achievement.
But the fact that it was needed to help African Americans escape torture and lives of abuse and torment speaks volumes.

The very foundation of America is discussed in this homage paid to the slaves.
The settlers were not inhuman versus the kidnapped Africans.

They have exterminated the Native Americans and their plight is also brought forward in this chef d'oeuvre.
But the main part is dedicated to the slaves.

And to Cora in particular.
This is the name of the main character.

She is a determined, brave, resilient, strong, just, valorous and unfortunate girl.
Born a slave on a Southern plantation, she is beaten, raped, abused and this would be the story of her life, if Caesar would not enter her world.

Or maybe I am wrong and no matter what, Cora would have still tried to escape.
It could have been in the family genes.

Mabel, her mother has ran from the plantation.
And Cora is still angry with her because she abandoned her daughter to a life of suffering.

Most white people were evil. But there were some exceptions.

White and black men and women cooperated to create, then operate The Underground Railroad.
After a hard journey, Cora and Caesar reach a station and escape to another state, leaving Georgia behind.

Nevertheless, the book has more suspense than I can take easily.
Almost every time I thought she is free and "they live happily for ever after", a surprise was in store.

And then given the context, the background of slave owners abjection I would also resign and think at times...

This is the end!
Cora will be killed and from here on we just travel to the past.

But then there was yet another unsuspected event and there was hope again.
The author writes chapters that are incursions into the past.

And we also have parts that tell the stories of different personages:

Mabel, Ethel, Caesar, Ridgeway and others

Ridgeway is one of the villains of this tale.
Only there are so many...

I am thinking of the crowds that gather to lunch, tear apart prisoners.
Or that ceremony, Friday ritual that took place every week and the whole town came to enjoy the hanging and torture of slaves and those who helped them.

And alas, this is extraordinary fiction alright, but the terrible thing is that these barbaric, inhuman acts have been committed.

And still are...
The other day, a monster has blown himself up and twenty two innocent people with him in Manchester.

-          Oh what a piece of work is man



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