Let Us Descend A Novel By Jesmyn Ward (2023)

Jesmyn Ward's "Let Us Descend" is a haunting masterpiece that reimagines American slavery with beauty and heart-wrenching intensity. A two-time National Book Award winner and MacArthur Fellow, Ward crafts an instant classic, a journey from the Carolinas' rice fields to the slave markets of New Orleans and the heart of a Louisiana sugar plantation before the Civil War.

The novel centers on Annis, sold south by her white enslaver, guiding readers through the harrowing landscape. As Annis traverses the miles, she seeks solace in memories of her mother and tales of her African warrior grandmother. Ward intricately weaves a tapestry of spirits—earth, water, myth, and history—nurturing and manipulating, creating a world beyond the visible.

"Let Us Descend" unfolds with transcendent love, delving into the depths of grief and joy inscribed into the American South's unforgiving landscapes. Annis's internal journey mirrors the external descent into the horrors of slavery, ultimately culminating in a story of rebirth and reclamation. Ward's prose, inspired by Dante's Inferno, resonates with profound exploration and emotional resonance, marking this as her most magnificent novel yet.

Shortlisted for the 2024 Carnegie Medal for Excellence and an Oprah's Book Club pick, "Let Us Descend" stands as a testament to Ward's brilliance, capturing Black American experiences and the enduring spirit amidst the rich but challenging terrain of the American South. This miracle of a novel is a timeless masterwork that engraves itself into the literary landscape, a powerful narrative of resilience and renewal. 📚❤️