About the book
The acclaimed Nobel Prize winner challenges our most fiercely held beliefs as she weaves folklore and history, memory and myth into an unforgettable meditation on race, religion, gender, and a far-off past that is ever present—in prose that soars with the rhythms, grandeur, and tragic arc of an epic poem.
“They shoot the white girl first. With the rest they can take their time.” So begins Toni Morrison’s Paradise, which opens with a horrifying scene of mass violence and chronicles its genesis in an all-black small town in rural Oklahoma. Founded by the descendants of freed slaves and survivors in exodus from a hostile world, the patriarchal community of Ruby is built on righteousness, rigidly enforced moral law, and fear. But seventeen miles away, another group of exiles has gathered in a promised land of their own. And it is upon these women in flight from death and despair that nine male citizens of Ruby will lay their pain, their terror, and their murderous rage.
“A fascinating story, wonderfully detailed. . . . The town is the stage for a profound and provocative debate.” —Los Angeles Times
Editions of Paradise
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780609000052
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780676971132
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780679433743
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780804169882
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780375702174
- EBook
- ISBN 9780307388117
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780147520333
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780147520319
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9780147520326
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9780147520302
Read an Excerpt
The acclaimed Nobel Prize winner challenges our most fiercely held beliefs as she weaves folklore and history, memory and myth into an unforgettable meditation on race, religion, gender, and a far-off past that is ever present—in prose that soars with the rhythms, grandeur, and tragic arc of an epic poem.
“They shoot the white girl first. With the rest they can take their time.” So begins Toni Morrison’s Paradise, which opens with a horrifying scene of mass violence and chronicles its genesis in an all-black small town in rural Oklahoma. Founded by the descendants of freed slaves and survivors in exodus from a hostile world, the patriarchal community of Ruby is built on righteousness, rigidly enforced moral law, and fear. But seventeen miles away, another group of exiles has gathered in a promised land of their own. And it is upon these women in flight from death and despair that nine male citizens of Ruby will lay their pain, their terror, and their murderous rage.
“A fascinating story, wonderfully detailed. . . . The town is the stage for a profound and provocative debate.” —Los Angeles Times
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Paradise about?
The acclaimed Nobel Prize winner challenges our most fiercely held beliefs as she weaves folklore and history, memory and myth into an unforgettable meditation on race, religion, gender, and a far-off past that is ever present—in prose that soars with the rhythms, grandeur, and tragic arc of an epic poem.
“They shoot the white girl first. With the rest they can take their time.” So begins Toni Morrison’s Paradise, which opens with a horrifying scene of mass violence and chronicles its genesis in an all-black small town in rural Oklahoma. Founded by the descendants of freed slaves and survivors in exodus from a hostile world, the patriarchal community of Ruby is built on righteousness, rigidly enforced moral law, and fear. But seventeen miles away, another group of exiles has gathered in a promised land of their own. And it is upon these women in flight from death and despair that nine male citizens of Ruby will lay their pain, their terror, and their murderous rage.
“A fascinating story, wonderfully detailed. . . . The town is the stage for a profound and provocative debate.” —Los Angeles Times
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Paradise?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre
Where can I read a sample of Paradise?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780609000052
Is Paradise part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Vintage International
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Paradise?
Toni Morrison
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Paradise is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780609000052) and hardcover(ISBN 9780676971132) and hardcover(ISBN 9780679433743) and paperback(ISBN 9780804169882) and paperback(ISBN 9780375702174) and ebook(ISBN 9780307388117) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780147520333) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780147520319) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780147520326) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780147520302)
Where can I buy Paradise online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Paradise from below
Where can I buy Paradise?