The Man Who Lived Underground: A Novel
The Man Who Lived Underground: A Novel by Richard Wright is a significant literary work published by Library of America on April 20, 2021. This edition spans 240 pages and is presented in English. The novel centers on Fred Daniels, a Black man who is wrongfully accused of a double murder, tortured into a false confession, and ultimately escapes into the city’s sewer system. This previously unpublished narrative explores themes of race and police violence, reflecting Wright’s profound insights during a pivotal period of his writing career.
In this explosive novel, readers will encounter a gripping story that delves into the harsh realities of injustice and survival. The text, which Wright considered his most inspired work, is presented in its complete form for the first time, accompanied by his essay “Memories of My Grandmother.” This edition also includes an afterword by Malcolm Wright, the author’s grandson, providing additional context to this powerful exploration of urban life and systemic oppression. The book is a vital addition to discussions surrounding African American literature and the historical context of race relations in America.
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NAACP IMAGE AWARD FINALIST
NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER
ONE OF TIME’S 100 MUST-READ BOOKS OF 2021
ONE OF OPRAH’S 15 FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2021
ONE OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE‘S 10 BEST BOOKS OF 2021
A BOSTON GLOBE BEST BOOK OF 2021
STEPH CURRY’S “UNDERRRATED” BOOK CLUB PICK
A major literary event: an explosive, previously unpublished novel about race and police violence by the legendary author of Native Son and Black Boy
Fred Daniels, a Black man, is picked up by the police after a brutal double murder and tortured until he confesses to a crime he did not commit. After signing a confession, he escapes from custody and flees into the city’s sewer system.
This is the devastating premise of this scorching novel, a masterpiece that Richard Wright was unable to publish in his lifetime. Written between his landmark books Native Son (1940) and Black Boy (1945), at the height of his creative powers, it would eventually see publication only in drastically condensed and truncated form in the posthumous collection Eight Men (1961).
Now, for the first time, by special arrangement with the author’s estate, the full text of this incendiary novel about race and violence in America, the work that meant more to Wright than any other (“I have never written anything in my life that stemmed more from sheer inspiration”), is published in the form that he intended, complete with his companion essay, “Memories of My Grandmother.” Malcolm Wright, the author’s grandson, contributes an afterword.
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