Crook Manifesto
 2023 dust jacket | |
| Author | Colson Whitehead |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Subject | African American fiction, 1976 American bicentennial fiction, detective and mystery stories |
| Genre | Crime detective fiction |
| Set in | Harlem in 1971, 1973, and 1976 |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
Publication date | 2023 |
| Media type | Print, digital, audio |
| Pages | 310+ |
| ISBN | 9780385545150 9780385545167 |
| OCLC | 1330712031 |
| 813/.54 | |
| LC Class | PS3573.H4768 C76 2023 |
| Preceded by | Harlem Shuffle |
| Website | Penguin Random House |
Crook Manifesto is a 2023 novel by Colson Whitehead. It returns to the fictional world of his previous book, Harlem Shuffle. It is a work of crime fiction and a family saga that takes place in Harlem during three periods: 1971, 1973, and 1976, the year of the America's bicentennial celebration.[1][2][3][4]
Analysis[edit]
According to Evan Kindley, writing for The New Republic magazine, in recent decades, there has been a meaningful rebirth in the historical fiction genre. He says, it has become the most respected genre in contemporary literature. Kindley, citing a literary scholar, also points out that most of the novels nominated for major American awards since 2000 are historical fiction.[4]
In Kindley's view, Colson Whitehead has been impactful as an author advancing the rise of historical fiction during the 21st century. Although, Whitehead has written many kinds of stories, historical fiction is shown to be his forte.[4] Whitehead's career shows that he has interest in writing elaborate historical settings.[4] These settings can be unusual. For instance, there is the unclear time period of New York City in his first book, The Intuitionist. Then there is the bizarre, such as the alternate reality of the South in The Underground Railroad. Only Whitehead's 2006 novel, Apex Hides the Hurt, approximates the present, yet it is surreal.[4]
See also[edit]
- Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby (2020)
- Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby (2021)
References[edit]
- ^ Mosley, Walter (13 July 2023). "Colson Whitehead Returns to Harlem, and His Hero Returns to Crime". The New York Times.
- ^ Crispin, Jessa (17 July 2023). "Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead review — danger in the Big, Rotten Apple". The Times.
- ^ Arnott, Jake (July 12, 2023). "Review – a dazzling sequel to Harlem Shuffle". The Guardian. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Kindley, Evan (August 1, 2023). "Colson Whitehead's Ode to 1970s New York". The New Republic. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
External links[edit]
- Official website
- Colson Whitehead 'Crook Manifesto' author interview. Terry Gross. NPR. Audio only. July 24, 2023.