The Sweetness of Water: Longlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize

The Sweetness of Water is a novel longlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize. Set as the American Civil War draws to a close, it centres on Landry and Prentiss, two brothers born into slavery who are finally freed. With no money and limited choices, they set out in search of work while facing a society that continues to meet them with intolerance.

Nearby, farmer George Walker and his wife, Isabelle, are struggling in the aftermath of a loss that has shaken them deeply. After a chance encounter, they agree to employ the brothers on their land, and a tentative trust begins to take shape between strangers. The sanctuary they create proves fragile: a tragedy prompts the surrounding town to view these new friendships with suspicion, setting in motion devastating consequences.

Key details

• Longlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize
• New York Times bestseller
• Oprah Book Club pick
• Barack Obama Summer Reading 2021 selection

Synopsis

Freed at the end of the American Civil War, Landry and Prentiss must build a life from nothing in a hostile society. When George and Isabelle Walker offer them work, a cautious bond begins to form on the farm. A local tragedy then turns the town’s suspicion towards their growing connection, with devastating consequences.

Rackhams Reference : IKPE3CUBGR