The Underground Railroad

Whitehead has achieved a remarkably readable alternate history of America's dark slavery period. Although the broad brushstrokes follow the familiar and despicable story, Whitehead's characters live in a slightly altered timeline that brings a remarkably literal interpretation of their escape to life. Without revealing Underground Railroad's secrets, it feels almost like a steampunk interpretation of running away, fleeing into alternately terrifying and paradise-like interpretations of real life.

The story of Cora and Caesar and Mabel and Royal is heartbreaking, not just for the regular shattering of their brief forays into hope but also for the incredible hatred that humans did (and still do) bring against each other. It's especially poignant to finish on the eve of Donald Trump's inauguration, rife as his campaign was with vitriol toward an almost innumerable selection of his fellow men. His rallies became increasingly frenzied, thankfully stopping short of the pure violence of Underground Railroad's public hangings and lynch mobs. Still, though, over a hundred years has passed since Cora fled into the swamp and not nearly enough has changed.