Book · 2000 · FICTION / African American / General
The Underground Railroad
Why people recommend it
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historical fiction novel that reimagines the antebellum South by turning the secret network of abolitionist routes into a literal subterranean railway system utilized by an enslaved woman named Cora seeking freedom. On The Book Review, hosts Gilbert Cruz and Pamela Paul repeatedly highlighted the novel, with Jenny Schusler noting the massive cultural conversation surrounding it, especially after Oprah Winfrey selected it for her book club. Pamela Paul shared that the narrative completely draws readers into its harrowing yet brilliant journey. In subsequent episodes, Colson Whitehead discussed crafting the novel at age forty-six, reflecting on his artistic standards and the immense critical acclaim and career-defining praise the book generated, including its prominence on major award lists as discussed by Alexandra Alter. The novel earns endless praise because it blends magical realism with brutal historical truths, creating a visceral masterpiece about American trauma and the relentless pursuit of liberty.
Who recommended it
- Gilbert Cruz Recommended
- Pamela Paul Recommended
- Colson Whitehead Discussed
- Alexandra Alter Discussed
- Greg Coles Discussed
- Alexander Alter Discussed
- Dwight Garner Discussed
- Jimana C. T. Discussed
- Jenny Schusler Recommended
Gilbert Cruz — 5 mentions
Discussed
“I spoke to Coulson Whitehead as part of this podcast series about his book The Underground ril Road and he said something to the effect when talking about the steps that led to that book”
Discussed
“he is sometimes known as the writer of two Pulitzer Prize winning novels the nickelbys and the Underground Railroad”
Recommended
“the book again is the Underground Railroad by Coulson Whitehead and it's reviewed on our cover this week”
Discussed
“you had written these two beautiful books the Underground Railroad and the nickel boys they were claimed but they were heavy and then you followed that up by zagging into this colorful funny Lively thrilling Heist novel”
Discussed
“Coulson Whitehead is here to talk about his new novel The Underground Railroad”
Pamela Paul — 5 mentions
Discussed
“you are here for your last little novel a book called The Underground Railroad which met with some success of I was very glad yeah the national book award Oprah book club pick Barry Jenkins is turning it into a miniseries”
Discussed
“I guess you would call it historical the Underground Railroad of course you jump around in time”
Discussed
“um but it's it's certainly less dark than your than than the nickel boys and and Underground Railroad”
Recommended
“the book again is the Underground Railroad by Coulson Whitehead and it's reviewed on our cover this”
Recommended
“as I mentioned earlier uh I'm also reading Coulson whiteheads the Underground Railroad which totally draws you in and my ongoing project my homebook is Hamilton”
Colson Whitehead — 4 mentions
Discussed
“and the Underground Railroad was the best book I could write when I was 46 and if I'm doing the best work I can each year I can be proud of each book and they'll hold up for me at least”
Discussed
“and then Underground Railroad curbing my love for digression and you know Pomo pyrot Technics”
Discussed
“certainly so describing the different rooms in the museum the soothing blue walls of life on the slave ship evoked the Atlantic sky here Kora stalked a section of the ship's deck around the Mast”
Discussed
“but the nickel boys just seemed like the best followup for me intellectually after the Underground Railroad so it was it real relief to be able to tell jokes again and have fun with conventions in a way have a sense of play which due to the subject matter of the nickel boys and Underground Railroad I couldn't do before”
Alexandra Alter — 3 mentions
Discussed
“Coulson Whitehead was nominated for the underground rail world that was probably the least surprising name on the list this book has generated probably the most praise in his entire career and attention”
Discussed
“another kind of example that was recent that we saw was with Coulson Whitehead's novel The Underground Railroad which had an enormous sales boost as well”
Discussed
“probably if you were looking at a commercial literary crossover book this year would be Coulson whitee heads the underground real road which got so much Awards attention as well as an Oprah boost”
Greg Coles — 1 mention
Discussed
“there is the Underground Railroad of course Coulson Whitehead's book”
Alexander Alter — 1 mention
Discussed
“a lot of people were surprised to see that Coulson Whitehead was not did not make it from the long list to the short list for the Underground Railroad”
Dwight Garner — 1 mention
Discussed
“as I say in my in my review you know it's a fat time for for books that are really deeply imaginative from Coulson whiteheads Underground Railroad to Lincoln and the BAU by George Saunders”
Jimana C. T. — 1 mention
Discussed
“from Wolf Hall to the known world to the Underground Railroad to to penko to Lincoln and the BAU”
Jenny Schusler — 1 mention
Recommended
“starting with the book everybody seems to be talking about this week Coulson Whit heads the Underground Railroad or as Oprah said when she announced it for her pick the Underground Railroad”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker — 1
Discussed
“this book reminded me of Coulson white house uh Whitehead's Underground Railroad in a way and that he created this world that was so rich with possibility that every choice that the writer makes you think oh my God that's so interesting”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (9: passing, ad reads, own books)
Passing
“In 2017 for The Underground Railroad, and in 2020 for The Nickel Boys, making him one of only a handful of authors who has received the Pulitzer twice for fiction.”
Passing
“I think so you know Coulson white hit has written across genre he's written all different types of books and and there are many of his books that are more um stylistically ornate they're sort of postmodern you know with the underground railroads certainly and then with nickel boy he he really paired it back”
Passing
“talk to celson Whitehead not only about the Underground Railroad which he's talked about on this podcast before”
Passing
“Coulson Whitehead talking about the Underground Railroad and Jeffrey tubin talking about American erys his book about Patty Hurst both authors I'd interviewed before in fact that year I interviewed Coulson on three separate occasions about the Underground Railroad”
Passing
“white heads pulitzers were for the historical novels the Underground Railroad and the nickel boys”
Passing
“but in terms of reader investment in this young woman's coming of age it made me think so much of Kora in Coulson whiteheads the Underground Railroad from a few years ago”
Passing
“one for underground railroad one for nickelbys”
Passing
“We should point out that still at number one uh for the third week is Coulson whiteheads the Underground Railroad”
Passing
“I did finish the Coulson Whitehead”