Well-written and engrossing story of free blacks owning slaves. A quiet, plodding sort-of book examining each character's view with the undertones of violence and injustice always beneath the surface. Enlightening in its portrayal of a slave's life -- I particularly liked the character of Elias. But personally, I was glad to finish the book -- it was almost like eating too much fudge. I'm going to nitpik about the author's references to the U. S. Census. (page 7) I realize the town or county of Manchester, VA is made-up for the purposes of the novel however the reference to the census: "included a...man who...according to the U. S. Census of 1860 legally owned his own wife...5 children...3 grandchildren". In 1860 no specific relationships to the head-of-household are stated in the enumeration (that doesn't begin until 1880) nor should the wife and others have been counted twice (both with the free man's household and with the slaves). If the wife and children were listed as servants (though the author doesn't say this) with the free man this would not in anyway indicate they were "owned" by the head-of-the-household. Also, being listed as servants would mean they were not slaves. In both the 1850 and 1860 censuses, slaves were listed separately on the slave schedules under the owner's name. They were identified as males or females and their ages were noted, nothing more (other than, of course, the county, post office district or township, and state they were in). It is one of the frustrating aspects of African-American genealogical research where one usually has to assume by the owner's last name and the age/sex of the slave that perhaps one is looking at one's ancestor. A worthy read but taxing. ( )

History of Negroes in Virginia. Too many characters, too many sub plots, skips in time from birth to death in one paragraph.Incorporates supernatural but it does not work. I can't understand why this book got a Pulitzer prize. ( )

Good story, but pretty easy to put down and not pick up; I read 'Book of Negros' not too long ago, and this didn't seem nearly as good; author overuses device of asides following some minor character's future (e.g., something like: 'she was to marry him and live in squalor and never wear anything lovely again...'); book begins with scene of character masturbating, which might be awkward/objectionable in high school context ( )

I loved the how Mr. Jones developed the characters in this book...I really enjoyed it! It gave a sense of community to *slavery* that no other book I has. ( )

Known World conta-nos a história de homens, mulheres e crianças, brancos e negros, livres e escravos, num tempo em que negros livres possuíam escravos. E não só os possuíam, como os tratavam como tal, seguindo o exemplo dos seus próprios ex-donos brancos. Neste mundo a riqueza e a posse sobrepunham-se à cor da pele, mas nunca completamente...

Known World tells us the story of men, women and children, white and black, free and slave, in a time where free negroes possessed their own slaves. And not only did they possessed them but they also treated them as slaves, according to the example of their own white ex-owners. In this world the wealth and the possession overcame the colour of skin, but never completely... ( )