Finalist for the National Book Award • New York Times Bestseller • One of The New York Times Best Historical Fiction of the Year
On a Deep South plantation, Isaiah and Samuel have only each other. In the barn, amidst the cruelty and violence of their enslavement, they find refuge—transforming the hollowed space into one of love, intimacy, and hope. But when a fellow enslaved man seeks favor by preaching the master’s gospel, the plantation’s fragile harmony fractures. Isaiah and Samuel’s forbidden love, once a quiet sanctuary, becomes a dangerous threat.
With lyricism reminiscent of Toni Morrison, Robert Jones, Jr.’s The Prophets is a stunning debut that gives voice to both the enslaved and the oppressors, exploring the devastating weight of inheritance, the resilience of community, and the transformative power of love.
Named one of The New York Times Notable Books of the Year, this is a story of beauty, pain, and truth you won’t forget.
