Colson Whitehead: The Underground Railroad

Colson Whitehead's new great American novel, The Underground Railroad (Doubleday), depicts a real underground railroad that transports a fugitive slave to stops that defy time and history, highlighting the daily struggles of black people, past and present. It is a very different book from his previous work and Whitehead discusses what led to such a drastic change in style. Even though he dreamt up the concept for the book 16 years ago, he is certain that as the Gen X slacker he claims he was, he would have "messed it up."

Note: This interview originally aired on September 15, 2016.

Photo: editrrix