But by now, it should be clear that this most eclectic of contemporary masters never repeats himself, and his new novel is as audacious, ingenious, and spellbinding as any of his previous period pieces. The twin triumphs of The Underground Railroad (2016) and The Nickel Boys (2019) may have led Whitehead’s fans to believe he would lean even harder on social justice themes in his next novel. Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.After winning back-to-back Pulitzer Prizes for his previous two books, Whitehead lets fly with a typically crafty change-up: a crime novel set in mid-20th-century Harlem. But this is the first time that I’ve had a character and a world that I’m not finished with.” Normally, I write a book and I’m done I’m sick of it. “I’m writing a second volume of Carney stories,” he said. “I could explore the world in a different way, that’s not tied to these terrible systems of capitalism and institutional racism.”Īnd in an interview with Sharp, published in October, Whitehead spilled some details about his next project. “After the darkness of the last two books, the levity, Carney’s humble charm, is fulfilling a psychological need for me,” Whitehead said. In an interview last year with the New York Times, Whitehead said that writing the character of Carney was a relief to him after writing his two previous books, The Underground Railroadand The Nickel Boys, both of which tackled themes of violent racism. In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus wrote of the novel, which was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize, “As one of Whitehead’s characters might say of their creator, When you’re hot, you’re hot.” Harlem Shuffle, published last September by Doubleday, follows furniture salesman Carney in mid-20th-century New York, as he takes occasional jobs as a fence, selling pilfered merchandise on behalf of his shady cousin. “Don’t be sad-he’ll be back in 2023!” Whitehead replied. A real page turner…Tinged with sadness that I won’t be reading any of Ray Carney’s schemes anymore.” Whitehead responded to a reader who tweeted his praise for the novel, writing, “What a fantastic book #Harlemshuffle is.

The Pulitzer Prize–winning author plans to bring back the conflicted protagonist of his latest novel, Harlem Shuffle, he confirmed on Twitter. Colson Whitehead isn’t done with Ray Carney.

Harlem shuffle by colson whitehead