He is best known for his hardboiled detective series featuring easy rawlins. Mar 12, 2020 walter mosley is one of the best known writers in america. Ostensibly about slavery, this is really a book about freedom. Fortyseven is the name and number of a 14yearold slave working on master tobiass georgia plantation in 1832. This thoughtprovoking, genrebending account of one slaves emancipation, mosleys fear itself first book for young adults, makes for. It had a very different mix of history and scifi that really kept me on my toes. Magical realism and realistic fiction neither slave nor nigger be magic is a major component of a story that would typically focus on a normal, realistic life. Walter mosley is the new york times author of more than fifty novels in several series, most notably fourteen easy rawlins mysteries, several of which have been made into major motion pictures. In 20, he was inducted into the new york state writers hall of fame, and he is the winner of numerous awards. Nine stories of an imminent world,the wave, 47,the gift of fire on the head of a pin,socrates. A gripping young adult fiction debut by bestselling author walter mosley.
Jul 06, 2006 mosley s intergalactic comingofage tale. Set in a plantation, 47 a young slave boy is growing up under the watchful eye of a brutal slave master. And a prominent theme running through the remarkable book, 47 by walter mosley, an africanamerican writer best known for his easy rawlins series of detective novelsone of which, devil in a blue dresswas made into a major motion picture starring denzel washington. The book 47 written by walter mosley was a very interesting story. Apr 12, 2005 47 is the first young adult novel to be written by bestselling author walter mosley. A genrebending author who can move from sciencefiction to mysteries, walter mosley is perhaps bestknown and loved for his 1940s and 50s noir crime novels starring the. A mix of historical and science fiction, american author walter mosley s first book for young adults, 47 2005, tells the story of a young teenage slave boy, known only as fortyseven, whose life changes when he meets a mysterious runaway slave tall john. It was very fun to read because it was constantly changing and kept getting more and more exciting. I wanted a young adult novel dealing with slavery to knock my socks off or leave me speechless. Walter ellis mosley born january 12, 1952 is an american novelist, most widely recognized for his crime fiction. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read 47.
It is a very good book, but as i read it, i kept expecting it to be better. Mosley s essays on politics and culture have appeared in many leading publications, most notably the new york times magazine and the nation. The life of a young slave named 47 seems doomed until he meets a mysterious runaway slave and finds himself swept up in a struggle for his own liberation. Can anyone give me an outline or summary of the book 47. But overall, it was an okay book showing how much detail there was in the book. In his first book for young adults, the bestselling author weaves a powerful narrative about the nature of freedom.
Walter mosley is one of americas most celebrated and beloved writers. Reading this book showed me what it was like being a slave and how much slaves. While quite characterdriven, the novel is replete with continuing action. It gave some insight into slavery and the scifi added a nice little touch. Mosleys essays on politics and culture have appeared in many leading publications, most notably the new york times magazine and the nation. Master storyteller walter mosley deftly mixes speculative and historical fiction in this daring new york times bestselling novel, reminiscent of colson whiteheads the underground railroad.
In his first book for young adults, mosley deftly weaves historical and speculative fiction into a powerful narrative about the nature of freedom. Walter on facebook little brownhachette walters publisher has just done an update of their site. The reason why this wasnt my favorite book is that the language was very disturbing and it isnt my style of a genre. Walter on facebook little brownhachette walter s publisher has just done an update of their site.
I am a huge walter mosley fan, so maybe my expectations were too high. Walter mosley is one of americas greatest crimefiction writers. It all happened over a hundred and seventy years ago. In the contemporary preface which opens the book, the i promises a story of his boyhood back in 1832. This thoughtprovoking, genrebending account of one slaves emancipation, mosley s fear itself first book for young adults, makes for harrowing reading. Walter mosley is one of the bestknown writers in america. He is the author of almost 50 books across multiple genres including the bestselling mystery series featuring detective easy rawlins. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Walter mosley books list of books by author walter mosley.
Master tobias turners plantation is far from the false, happy vision of gone with the wind. Read 47 by walter mosley available from rakuten kobo. His first novel was devil in a blue dress, published in 1990. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of 47 by walter mosley. Walter mosley s first book for ya readers is quite an unusual one. Interlacing history and science fiction together, he creates an intriguing world that will draw readers in. Fortyseven is also the narrator of mosley s youngadult literature debut, still alive almost two centuries later to tell of his fated encounter with 3,000yearold tall john from beyond africa, who has arrived in a sun ship from planet elle where red and purple forests are. Mosley deftly weaves historical and speculative fiction into a powerful narrati.
Children resist slavery better than men and women because children believe in dreams. Walter mosley is one of the best known writers in america. Walter mosley is likely to capture a new generation of readers and fans with his first book for young adult readers, 47. Walter mosley is an american novelist of crime fiction and historical mystery novels. Army and his mother was a personnel clerk of russianjewish descent. His life seems doomed, until he meets the mysterious tall john who not only introduces him to an. The story is a mix of history, mythology particularly the story of tall john the conqueror, and science fiction that is sure to become a timeless classic. Slaves, not being real people, didnt need real names. Its written for young adults, and mixes science fiction and. Megabestselling author walter mosley, best known for his ongoing easy rawlins mystery series. His books have won numerous awards and have been translated into more than twenty languages. This was a fairly good book, very different from the books that i have read from the author. His bestselling historical mysteries feature the hardboiled detective easy rawlins, who is a black private investigator as well as world war ii veteran currently living in. Walter mosley audio books, best sellers, author bio.
A master storyteller, mosley deftly mixes speculative and historical fiction in this daring novel. He is an american author and novelist who is widely recognized for his works of crime fiction. Mosley, best known for his easy rawlins mysteries, has penned a fascinating novel for young people, part historical fiction, part science fiction and part fantasy. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Events of story did not happen in real life, but settings are during real events in history.
A genrebending author who can move from sciencefiction to mysteries, walter mosley is perhaps bestknown and loved for his 1940s and 50s noir crime novels starring the cool, complex detective easy rawlins. Its an unexpected combination of historical fiction with fantasy. In his first book for young adults, bestselling author walter mosley deftly weaves historical and speculative fiction into a powerful narrative about the nature of freedom. Below is a list of walter mosley s books in order of when they were originally released. Throughout the virtual world, rest assured that the 47 society exists to keep track of 47 sightings. Can anyone give me an outline or summary of the book 47 by. For many of you it might sound like a tall tale because i am no older today than i was back there in the year 1832.
Karen grigsby bates talks with writer walter mosley about his newest book, 47. Walter mosley became a published author at the ripe age of 34, but hasnt stopped writing since. However, there was a bit too much fantasy for a historical fiction. Reading guide for 47 by walter mosley discussion guide for book clubs. This book is one of the strangest books that i have ever read. A slaves flight to freedom in 47 karen grigsby bates talks with writer walter mosley about his newest book, 47. Mosleys father was an africanamerican clerk in the u. Fortyseven is also the narrator of mosleys youngadult literature debut, still alive almost two. We learn all this at the beginning of 47, the first young adult novel by acclaimed writer walter mosley, who has created a wonderful, genrebending exploration into life, destiny and what it means to be free. Little brownhachette walter s publisher has just done an update of their site. A mix of historical and science fiction, american author walter mosleys first book for young adults. The first four chapters tell the story of young slave number 47, who has lived on a cotton plantation for his entire life.
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