The Sweetness of Water
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1837 |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
| Products | Books |
| Website | www |
The Sweetness of Water marks the first novel by American writer Nathan Harris, released by Little, Brown and Company on June 15, 2021. This debut work earned the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence and was included on the longlist for the 2021 Booker Prize.
Summary
Set against the backdrop of the concluding period of the Civil War in the fictional Georgian town of Old Ox, The Sweetness of Water centers on two Black siblings, Prentiss and Landry, who have been liberated through the Emancipation Proclamation. Their journey involves raising funds to head northward and reunite with their mother. The story also delves into a forbidden romantic relationship between two Confederate soldiers who are gay.
Background
Nathan Harris, an alumnus of the University of Oregon, relocated to San Francisco where he held various positions, including food delivery for Postmates and assisting as a legal aide for his mother, an attorney. Between 2013 and 2015, he dedicated early mornings and late evenings to writing his inaugural novel alongside his employment. Harris finalized the manuscript during his fellowship at the Michener Center for Writers, where he secured representation from literary agent Emily Forland at Brandt & Hochman in his third year. The manuscript was presented to publishers in June 2019. The Sweetness of Water was published simultaneously in the United Kingdom by Tinder Press and by Little, Brown and Company in the United States on June 15, 2021.
Reception
The novel quickly gained widespread acclaim, attracting favorable critical attention and strong commercial success. On its release date, it was chosen by Oprah Winfrey for inclusion in Oprah's Book Club, significantly increasing its exposure and sales figures. Moreover, it appeared on former President Barack Obama's summer reading list for 2021, further amplifying its market impact.
Achieving bestseller status, the book received the 2021 Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. It was also shortlisted for the 2022 Dylan Thomas Prize, while being longlisted for both the 2021 Booker Prize and the 2022 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. Additionally, it reached finalist status during the second round of selections for the 2022 Grand Prix de Littérature Américaine, highlighting its critical recognition and strong standing within literary circles.