A review by birdybird
The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron

challenging dark slow-paced

1.5

This was a difficult read for many reasons. Styron is ultimately critical of slavery and the rich, white slave owners who are often depicted as foul, idiots, and/or degenerates. However, stereotypes of Black men are also ever present within the text and while some would disagree I think Styron’s own identity as a white man should be taken into consideration when approaching this text. As I continued reading I could not help but wonder how this booked appealed to authors such as James Baldwin and Ralph Ellison. The pushback is not surprising as Styron transforms a figure often positioned as a hero into a man whose masculinity is questioned and bumbles his way through the rebellion at the sight of blood. Overall, I cannot deny the literary/historical significance of the book, but that does not mean I can’t question Styron’s decision making.