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Ward’s latest novel, the New York Times bestseller Let Us Descend, takes on an even more fraught and painful topic: chattel slavery in the United States. This, too, is a sadly relevant topic as debate rages over how slavery and its legacy should be taught in our schools. More than a typical historical novel, Let Us Descend is informed by Ward’s personal experience of grief. Though she is quick to say her trauma is in no way comparable to that of her enslaved heroine, she understands, on a visceral level, profound sorrow. She has lost too many beloved men, including her brother, to untimely and violent deaths, something she addressed in her searing 2013 memoir, The Men We Reaped. Another inconceivable loss came at the start of the Covid pandemic, when her partner died suddenly of acute respiratory failure, leaving Ward alone with their two young children. She knows a thing or two about tragedy and resilience, and this makes her work all the more relatable. And like all great storytellers, Ward finds the poetry in the pain. Her writing—rich and lyrical yet completely accessible—reminds us that, despite society’s brutality and the vagaries of fate and nature, our ties of family, friendship, and community make it all worthwhile. For this and so many other reasons, we’re honored to have her join our Festival community in May. We’ll soon announce the date when Festival tickets go on sale, so keep an eye on your inbox and be ready to smash that “buy now” button. We look forward to joining you for an evening with Jesmyn Ward and all of our other great authors!
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