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The Water Dancer

The New York Times Bestseller
By Ta-Nehisi Coates
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4.06 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 117,347 ratings, 12,437 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates is a poignant tale set in the pre-Civil War South, blending history with a touch of magical realism. It follows Hiram Walker, a young man born into slavery with a mysterious power linked to water and memory. As Hiram navigates his path to freedom, he uncovers hidden truths about his past and a larger struggle for liberation.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to powerful narratives exploring themes of identity, memory, and resilience, with a blend of historical fiction and magical realism. It offers a compelling look at the American South during the era of slavery, woven with rich, evocative prose and an imaginative storyline.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The highly anticipated debut novel from the award-winning, bestselling author of We Were Eight Years in Power - a story of bondage, freedom, and love.

Every slave plantation is a house of spies and intrigue. No slave walks a straight line or has a single story - deep within their hearts is rebellion. But against whom?

Hiram Walker is a man with a gift and a curse. He was born between worldsโ€”his father a white plantation master, his mother black and enslaved. And, unbeknown even to himself, he was born with a special power. When he is sold to a new mistress as punishment for attempting escape, Hiram discovers her home is a secret hub of the underground railroadโ€”a training ground for its agents.

Hiram fast becomes a highly skilled agent, retrieving the enslaved from the most dangerous circumstances and gradually learning to harness his powerโ€”but betrayals lurk everywhere. And eventually, Hiram must risk everything to return to his father's plantation and free the friends he left behind.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates has received high praise for its imaginative storytelling and poetic prose. Reviewers highlight its unique approach to the theme of slavery, blending historical and supernatural elements to create a gripping narrative. Oprah Winfrey describes it as one of the best books she's ever read, while others commend its rich historical significance and relevance, calling it a bold and dazzling work by one of America's most important writers.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241982518

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 19 November 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 289g

Pages: 416

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Historical Fiction History & Archaeology History & Military Horror & Supernatural Literary Fiction Penguin Books Ta-Nehisi Coates

About the Author

Ta-Nehisi Coates is the author of The Beautiful Struggle, We Were Eight Years in Power, The Water Dancer, and Between the World and Me, which won the National Book Award in 2015. He is the recipient of a National Magazine Award and a MacArthur Fellowship. He is currently the Sterling Brown endowed chair at Howard University in the English department.

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