Plot Summary

Crossing the River

Caryl Phillips
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Crossing the River

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1993

Book Brief

Caryl Phillips

Crossing the River

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1993
Book Details
Pages

237

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Various • 18th-20th Century

Publication Year

1993

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Crossing the River by Caryl Phillips is a historical novel focusing on the experiences of three Black individuals during different periods as they face the challenges of being separated from their native Africa: Nash, a slave-turned-missionary; Martha, an elderly woman seeking freedom in California; and Travis, a World War II soldier who fathers a child with an Englishwoman. Sensitive topics include slavery, racism, and death.

Melancholic

Bittersweet

Mysterious

Dark

Reviews & Readership

4.1

1,217 ratings

65%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Caryl Phillips' Crossing the River impresses with evocative prose and a powerful narrative, exploring African diaspora through interconnected stories across centuries. Critics praise its emotional depth and historical insight, though some find its nonlinear structure challenging. The novel's thematic complexity resonates, but its fragmented style may alienate some readers.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Crossing the River?

Ideal for readers interested in historical narratives and the African diaspora, Crossing the River by Caryl Phillips resonates with fans of Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi and Beloved by Toni Morrison. The novel's intricate exploration of identity, displacement, and resilience offers a profound, multi-generational perspective.

4.1

1,217 ratings

65%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

237

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Various • 18th-20th Century

Publication Year

1993

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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