logo

56 pages 1 hour read

Esi Edugyan

Washington Black

Esi EdugyanFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Esi Edugyan

Washington Black

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018
Book Details
Pages

400

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Caribbean • 1830s

Publication Year

2018

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

830L

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan chronicles the journey of Washington "Wash" Black, an enslaved boy from a Barbados plantation, who becomes the assistant to eccentric scientist Titch. As they embark on adventures involving science and escape efforts, Wash navigates the intricacies of race, freedom, identity, and relationships, while ultimately seeking to find his place in a challenging world. The book contains scenes involving slavery and violence.

Adventurous

Emotional

Mysterious

Challenging

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.1

77,659 ratings

74%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Esi Edugyan's Washington Black has garnered praise for its vivid storytelling, complex characters, and rich historical context, though some critics note a meandering plot and uneven pacing. The novel's exploration of themes like freedom and identity is compelling, with Edugyan's prose celebrated for its elegance and depth, despite occasional narrative digressions.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Washington Black?

Readers who enjoyed The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead or Life of Pi by Yann Martel will appreciate Washington Black by Esi Edugyan. This novel appeals to those interested in historical fiction, adventure, and themes of freedom and identity, offering a complex, character-driven narrative with rich, poetic prose.

4.1

77,659 ratings

74%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

400

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Caribbean • 1830s

Publication Year

2018

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

830L

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.