Why read Freeman?

Book cover of Freeman

Book description

Freeman, the new novel by Leonard Pitts, Jr., takes place in the first few months following the Confederate surrender and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Upon learning of Lee's surrender, Sam--a runaway slave who once worked for the Union Army--decides to leave his safe haven in Philadelphia and set out…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Freeman as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Steve Piacente

Author

Knowing what's coming (or having a reasonably good idea) doesn't lessen the anticipation of reading the next chapter, scene, or line. Pitts is observant and relatable - just what you'd expect from a good (former) newspaperman.

From Steve's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Elizabeth Bell

Author

This novel begins just after the American Civil War and Emancipation, but it foreshadows the horrific legacy of slavery. The titular character, a Black man named Sam who is now free, goes in search of Tilda, the wife whom slavery ripped away from him. Meanwhile, her Confederate enslaver drags Tilda westward, refusing to give up the woman he thinks he owns. How do you rebuild a society and a family in the wake of slavery’s devastation? Pitts explores this question unforgettably, acknowledging the inevitable violence but with a glimmer of hope. Freeman put me through a whole gamut of emotions.…

From Elizabeth's list on The best novels about the human toll of American slavery.