


Set in antebellum America, Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize–winning book envisions the Underground Railroad not as a network of abolitionists and safe houses, but as an actual train, with subterranean stations staffed by covert activists snaking north to freedom. There was only darkness outside the windows on her journeys, and only ever would be darkness.” Later, toward the end of her harrowing escape from enslavement, the teenager realizes that the conductor’s comment was a “joke … from the start. Peering through the carriage’s slats, Cora sees “only darkness, mile after mile,” Whitehead writes. Look outside as you speed through, and you’ll find the true face of America.” Available for fiction and nonfiction titles, these are the book summaries that are worth your time.When Cora, the fictional protagonist of Colson Whitehead’s 2016 novel The Underground Railroad, steps onto a boxcar bound for the North, the train’s conductor offers her a wry word of advice: “If you want to see what this nation is all about, I always say, you have to ride the rails. About the Author Worth Books smart summaries get straight to the point and provide essential tools to help you be an informed reader in a busy world, whether youre browsing for new discoveries, managing your to-read list for work or school, or simply deepening your knowledge.

The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of fiction. Her journey on the Underground Railroad-in Whiteheads conceit, a literal, subterranean railway-propels her journey across a dangerous landscape in search of freedom.

On the cusp of womanhood, Cora is a runaway slave, pursued by her memories of abuse and abandonment, and by the implacable and notoriously cruel slave hunter known as Ridgeway. This short summary and analysis of The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead includes: Historical context Chapter-by-chapter summaries Analysis of the main characters Themes and symbols Important quotes Fascinating trivia Glossary of terms Supporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead: Colson Whiteheads National Book Award-winning The Underground Railroad is a bold, original, and unflinchingly brutal portrait of slavery during the darkest period in American history. Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. Book Synopsis So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of The Underground Railroad tells you what you need to know-before or after you read Colson Whiteheads book.
