Edward P. Jones
From Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edward P. Jones, a master of subtlety and weighty dialogue, comes a oeuvre of thought-provoking novels and short stories. A man of timeless prose, his works transport readers into a captivating world of intricate characters, rich and profoundly emotional stories, and sensitive social commentary.
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Jones was exposed to a blend of African-American vernacular and the artistic patrons and educators from the surrounding area. He was greatly influenced by writers such as Ralph Ellison, Langston Hughes and what has been deemed as the “Black Arts Movement” of the 1960s.
Perhaps most notably, Jones’ epic 2003 novel The Known World was awarded both the Pulitzer Prize and the International Dublin Literary Award. Upon its debut, the novel had a profound impact on readers, as Jones managed to capture a period in history with a heartbreaking realism, further deepening its resonance with readers years after its publication.
The novel tells the story of Henry Townsend, a former slave turned slave master in the small town of Manchester, Virginia during antebellum. With a voice that captures the sorrow of the human spirit, Townsend’s story was met with widespread critical acclaim for its immense insight into the complex lives of his characters, who live among a dangerous and divided society.
In addition to plundering the depths of the African-American experience, Jones maintains a unique, though more subtle, take on religion in his works. He also explores the existential implications of spiritual faith, such as the potential of a supra-temporal domain, as in his National Book Award winning short story, “The First Day.”
Jones has since released two other novels, All Aunt Hagar’s Children and Lost in the City. Both novels are set in 1930s Washington, and feature characters faced with the duality of their own personal struggles and the racial afflictions of their environment.
In Lost in the City, Jones introduces a sweeping chorus of characters who vividly illustrate the grinding realism of working-class Washington, DC. Here we are introduced to a wealth of thematically interconnected stories, each in their own right being its own powerful testament to the struggling African-American narrative.
In recent years, Jones’ celebrated writing has been acknowledged with a Guggenheim Fellowship, an Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and several other prestigious awards. His works are an inspiring testament to current and past African-American struggles in society. He not only gives voice to these struggles, but adds an impressive richness that forces readers to ruminate his stories and social commentary for years to come.
