The Booker Prize Podcast

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan: April's Monthly Spotlight

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Esi Edugyan’s thrilling novel follows the astonishing adventures of its titular character, Washington Black, whose escape from the brutal cane plantations of Barbados was only the beginning. Shortlisted for the 2018 Booker Prize and set to be released as a glitzy television adaptation starring Sterling K Brown and co-produced by Edugyan later this year, what better excuse to dive into the novel?


In this episode Jo and James:

  • Introduce our April Monthly Spotlight pick
  • Share a brief biography of Esi Edugyan and her work to date
  • Summarise the novel
  • Discuss the plot and their thoughts
  • Suggest the kind of reader who will love the book


    • Reading list:

    • The Second Life of Samuel Tyne by Esi Edugyan
    • Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/half-blood-blues
    • Washington Black by Esi Edugyan: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/washington-black
    • Daughters of Africa, edited by Margaret Busby
    • The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-amber-spyglass
    • Any Human Heart by William Boyd: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/any-human-heart
    • This Other Eden by Paul Harding: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/this-other-eden


      • A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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