We Cast a Shadow A Novel
We Cast a Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin is a thought-provoking novel published by Random House Publishing Group on February 4, 2020. This edition spans 352 pages and is presented in English. The narrative follows a father’s obsessive quest to protect his biracial son, Nigel, in a near-future Southern city marked by racial tensions and police violence. As Nigel’s black birthmark becomes more pronounced, the father grapples with the extreme measures he might consider to ensure his son’s safety and success.
Readers will encounter a blend of satire and poignant family dynamics as the story explores themes of race and identity. The father’s journey is set against a backdrop of a society where residents increasingly turn to a controversial clinic promising transformation through demelanization. This novel delves into the complexities of love and sacrifice, highlighting the lengths one might go to in a world fraught with challenges. We Cast a Shadow presents a critical examination of the societal pressures surrounding race in America, making it a significant addition to contemporary literary fiction.
Official synopsis Publisher
“An incisive and necessary” (Roxane Gay) debut for fans of Get Out and Paul Beatty’s The Sellout, about a father’s obsessive quest to protect his son—even if it means turning him white
“Stunning and audacious . . . at once a pitch-black comedy, a chilling horror story and an endlessly perceptive novel about the possible future of race in America.”—NPR
LONGLISTED FOR THE DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD, THE CENTER FOR FICTION FIRST NOVEL PRIZE, THE PEN/OPEN BOOK AWARD, AND THE PEN/FAULKNER AWARD • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR AND THE WASHINGTON POST
“You can be beautiful, even more beautiful than before.” This is the seductive promise of Dr. Nzinga’s clinic, where anyone can get their lips thinned, their skin bleached, and their nose narrowed. A complete demelanization will liberate you from the confines of being born in a black body—if you can afford it.
In this near-future Southern city plagued by fenced-in ghettos and police violence, more and more residents are turning to this experimental medical procedure. Like any father, our narrator just wants the best for his son, Nigel, a biracial boy whose black birthmark is getting bigger by the day. The darker Nigel becomes, the more frightened his father feels. But how far will he go to protect his son? And will he destroy his family in the process?
This electrifying, hallucinatory novel is at once a keen satire of surviving racism in America and a profoundly moving family story. At its center is a father who just wants his son to thrive in a broken world. Maurice Carlos Ruffin’s work evokes the clear vision of Ralph Ellison, the dizzying menace of Franz Kafka, and the crackling prose of Vladimir Nabokov. We Cast a Shadow fearlessly shines a light on the violence we inherit, and on the desperate things we do for the ones we love.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “We Cast a Shadow A Novel” about?
Who is the author of “We Cast a Shadow A Novel”?
When was “We Cast a Shadow A Novel” published?
What is the ISBN for “We Cast a Shadow A Novel”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
