Editors’ Pick
Designed to Feel by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feelby Peter Burchardt — on emotions, evolution & the science of feeling
View on Amazon →
Cover of Native Son
Literary Fiction· United States

Native Son

by Richard Wright
Aggregate Editorial Score45/100
TIME 100 Best Novels
Published 1940399 pagesEnglish
Buy on Amazon →

About This Book

Richard Wright's Native Son (1940) stands as one of the most significant works of literary fiction of its era. Bigger Thomas, a young Black man living in 1930s Chicago, accidentally kills a white woman and flees—the crime forcing a confrontation with the racism that has shaped him. Wright's disturbing, powerful novel was a landmark of protest fiction and one of the most controversial American novels of the twentieth century. Themes of race, poverty, fear run through the work. The book has received recognition from TIME 100 Best Novels 1940.

Book Details

AuthorRichard Wright
Published1940
Country of Origin🇺🇸 United States
LanguageEnglish
Pages399
Category📖 Literary Fiction
ISBN9780061148507
Editorial Score45/100
About the Category

📖 Literary Fiction

Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

Explore all Literary Fiction books →
Country of Origin

🇺🇸 United States

This book is part of United States's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from United States →

Awards & Recognition

TIME 100 Best Novels
list · global
194021
✍️
About the Author
Richard Wright
United States
View Author →
Designed to Feel
Bestseller by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feel
Why Evolution Built Your Emotions, and How to Make Them Work for You
“The most eye-opening book on emotions I’ve ever read.”
Get It on Amazon →Paperback & Kindle

What to Read Next

Cover of Midnight's Children
literary-fiction

Midnight's Children

Salman Rushdie· 1981
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The God of Small Things
literary-fiction

The God of Small Things

Arundhati Roy· 1997
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Remains of the Day
literary-fiction

The Remains of the Day

Kazuo Ishiguro· 1989
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The White Tiger
literary-fiction

The White Tiger

Aravind Adiga· 2008
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Road
literary-fiction

The Road

Cormac McCarthy· 2007
★Pulitzer Prize★Hugo Award
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of Wolf Hall
historical-fiction

Wolf Hall

Hilary Mantel· 2009
★Booker Prize★Costa Book Award
Editorial Score100/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Native Son about?

Bigger Thomas, a young Black man living in 1930s Chicago, accidentally kills a white woman and flees—the crime forcing a confrontation with the racism that has shaped him. Wright's disturbing, powerful novel was a landmark of protest fiction and one of the most controversial American novels of the twentieth century.

Who wrote Native Son?

Native Son was written by Richard Wright, from United States. First published in 1940.

What awards has Native Son won?

Native Son has received the following awards and honours: TIME 100 Best Novels 1940.

Is Native Son worth reading?

Native Son is a book that has earned critical recognition, with an aggregate editorial score of 21/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in race, poverty, fear.

Where can I buy Native Son?

You can buy Native Son on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is Native Son?

Native Son is classified as Literary Fiction. Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

What country is Native Son from?

Native Son originates from United States's literary tradition. Explore more books from United States on our country page.

Explore More

📖More Literary FictionBrowse all Literary Fiction books🇺🇸Books from United States🇺🇸 United States literature📅1940s BooksPublished in the 1940s🏆Top 50 RankingsThe greatest books of all time