Confessions of Nat Turner

by William Styron

First published 1920

Nat Turner, a brilliant and pious slave, experiences a divine vision that compels him to lead a violent uprising against his white masters. Recruiting other slaves, he commits a series of gruesome murders that spark panic across Virginia. As the revolt spreads, Nat and his rebels find themselves outmatched by the relentless pursuit of white militias. Though their cause is doomed, Nat's actions ignite a national reckoning over the horrors of slavery.

Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, american, african-american, 19th-century, african-american-historical-fiction, american-history

Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, thought-provoking

Tropes: based-on-true-events, social-commentary

Setting: Virginia, America

Period: 1775-1865

347 pages · Paperback · Bantam Doubleday Dell

Content warnings: slavery, violence

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