Walter mosley is likely to capture a new generation of readers and fans with his first book for young adult readers, 47. It all happened over a hundred and seventy years ago. Mosleys father was an africanamerican clerk in the u. This book is one of the strangest books that i have ever read. It was very fun to read because it was constantly changing and kept getting more and more exciting. Walter mosley is one of americas most celebrated and beloved writers. He is the author of almost 50 books across multiple genres including the bestselling mystery series featuring detective easy rawlins.
A mix of historical and science fiction, american author walter mosleys first book for young adults. The reason why this wasnt my favorite book is that the language was very disturbing and it isnt my style of a genre. Nine stories of an imminent world,the wave, 47,the gift of fire on the head of a pin,socrates. 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. Karen grigsby bates talks with writer walter mosley about his newest book, 47. In his first book for young adults, mosley deftly weaves historical and speculative fiction into a powerful narrative about the nature of freedom. In his first book for young adults, the bestselling author weaves a powerful narrative about the nature of freedom. Slaves, not being real people, didnt need real names.
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. While quite characterdriven, the novel is replete with continuing action. Walter ellis mosley born january 12, 1952 is an american novelist, most widely recognized for his crime fiction. However, there was a bit too much fantasy for a historical fiction. Throughout the virtual world, rest assured that the 47 society exists to keep track of 47 sightings. It is a very good book, but as i read it, i kept expecting it to be better.
Fortyseven is also the narrator of mosleys youngadult literature debut, still alive almost two. His first novel was devil in a blue dress, published in 1990. The first four chapters tell the story of young slave number 47, who has lived on a cotton plantation for his entire life. This was a fairly good book, very different from the books that i have read from the author. Walter mosley is one of americas greatest crimefiction writers. Master tobias turners plantation is far from the false, happy vision of gone with the wind. It had a very different mix of history and scifi that really kept me on my toes. 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. This thoughtprovoking, genrebending account of one slaves emancipation, mosley s fear itself first book for young adults, makes for harrowing reading.
His books have won numerous awards and have been translated into more than twenty languages. 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. Little brownhachette walter s publisher has just done an update of their site. Read 47 by walter mosley available from rakuten kobo.
A slaves flight to freedom in 47 karen grigsby bates talks with writer walter mosley about his newest book, 47. Walter mosley audio books, best sellers, author bio. 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. Reading this book showed me what it was like being a slave and how much slaves. Mosley s essays on politics and culture have appeared in many leading publications, most notably the new york times magazine and the nation. He is best known for his hardboiled detective series featuring easy rawlins. 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.
Walter mosley books list of books by author walter mosley. 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. Mosley deftly weaves historical and speculative fiction into a powerful narrati. Mar 12, 2020 walter mosley is one of the best known writers in america. 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. Children resist slavery better than men and women because children believe in dreams.
Walter mosley s first book for ya readers is quite an unusual one. Megabestselling author walter mosley, best known for his ongoing easy rawlins mystery series. Walter mosley is one of the best known writers in america. Reading guide for 47 by walter mosley discussion guide for book clubs.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read 47. Ostensibly about slavery, this is really a book about freedom. Walter on facebook little brownhachette walters publisher has just done an update of their site. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of 47 by walter mosley. It gave some insight into slavery and the scifi added a nice little touch. Jul 06, 2006 mosley s intergalactic comingofage tale. Walter mosley is one of the bestknown writers in america. Walter mosley is an american novelist of crime fiction and historical mystery novels. 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. Interlacing history and science fiction together, he creates an intriguing world that will draw readers in. Events of story did not happen in real life, but settings are during real events in history. The book 47 written by walter mosley was a very interesting story.
In 20, he was inducted into the new york state writers hall of fame, and he is the winner of numerous awards. A gripping young adult fiction debut by bestselling author walter mosley. 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. 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. Can anyone give me an outline or summary of the book 47. I am a huge walter mosley fan, so maybe my expectations were too high. 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. Set in a plantation, 47 a young slave boy is growing up under the watchful eye of a brutal slave master. This thoughtprovoking, genrebending account of one slaves emancipation, mosleys fear itself first book for young adults, makes for. 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. Below is a list of walter mosley s books in order of when they were originally released. 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. Fortyseven is the name and number of a 14yearold slave working on master tobiass georgia plantation in 1832. Its an unexpected combination of historical fiction with fantasy.
Army and his mother was a personnel clerk of russianjewish descent. I wanted a young adult novel dealing with slavery to knock my socks off or leave me speechless. Its written for young adults, and mixes science fiction and. A master storyteller, mosley deftly mixes speculative and historical fiction in this daring novel.
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