The Prophets – Robert Jones, Jr.
100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: Survival is day-to-day for the slaves of the Empty, but Isaiah and Samuel have built a love and trust with one another that transcends their surroundings. But a confluence of forces both internal and external are about to disrupt the peace they’ve worked hard to maintain.
Expectation: A remarkable debut novel giving a queer perspective to the experiences of those held in slavery in pre-Civil War America.
Reality: Gorgeous writing, memorable characters and a tense last third help overcome a somewhat confusing structure. This is a book people will talk about all year.
Recommended For: Fans of James Baldwin.
Why I Read It: Another example of Bookstagram FOMO.
My Take:
There are novels you read, and then there are novels you experience. “The Prophets” — a spectacular debut by Robert Jones, Jr. — pulls you in immediately, and by the end of this immersive drama it feels as though you’ve lost a piece of yourself but gained new perspective.
Set on the Elizabeth cotton plantation, or Empty, in pre-Civil War Mississippi, Jones takes his time introducing us to the 10 or so characters — both those held in slavery and their enslavers — but the center of the story is Isaiah and Samuel, two men who found love among the desolation.
Before getting into a few of the aspects that didn’t always work for me, let’s make it clear: I don’t want to dissuade anyone from reading this novel.
It is a remarkable work of fiction that focuses on aspects of slavery, queer history and the antebellum south that I’ve never heard before. It led to reflection and some supplemental research, which is a testament to the time and dedication Jones put forward in writing this novel that will rightfully end up on many long and short lists.
However, the alternating POVs both aided and hurt the story. In some respects, it helped make it more riveting — diving into the motivations and experiences of multiple people to give a rounded view of what life was like — but it also disrupted the story’s flow.
This was most evident in the beginning, when the reader must piece together the connections between different individuals, and in the religious-themed interludes that were among the strongest chapters — almost dreamlike — that while connected to what was happening at Empty, felt like outliers.
Additionally, the writing is lush and beautiful if a tad overdone at times. Jones lists James Baldwin as an inspiration and it is evident in his prose, but Baldwin also knew how to make every word count, something Jones doesn’t always achieve. Still it’s of minor concern for the ways he turns a phrase, although it does require a fair amount of concentration — especially as an audiobook.
About halfway through, when you fall into the rhythm of the storytelling, and you’ve gained enough perspective to connect how some toss away references will factor into the slowly building conclusion, “The Prophets” reaches its full potential and stays there.
The last third was breathtaking, literally, in that I was holding my breath from the tension as the events unfolded. I don’t want to give anything away, other than it was a master stroke by Jones to cash in on the character development he slowly built.
And then there’s Isaiah and Samuel, the heart and soul of the story. Even at the most frustrating moments — rape, sexual and physical assault, objectification, religious fanaticism, and betrayal all factor into their story — when the two of them were on the page, the overwhelming sense of love and desire to survive was palpable.
There are many memorable characters that Jones brought to life, including Maggie and Puah, but I’ll hold Isaiah and Samuel the closest.
As an audiobook, the experience is okay. There’s an exceptional narration by Karen Chilton, but the production is a bit choppy. Jones’ writing is likely best suited for the page, but if you have time to really focus on the story, then the audio format will work well.
Rating (story): 4.5/5 stars
Rating (narration): 4/5
Formats: Audiobook (library loan)
Dates read: January 24 - 31, 2021
Multi-tasking: Not recommended. The language is too lush, and if you’re doing other things, you’ll miss crucial aspects of the story.
