Picture a young American storyteller who spun a heart-wrenching tale of freedom and forbidden love in the ashes of the Civil War—meet Nathan Harris! His debut novel, The Sweetness of Water, skyrocketed him to literary stardom in 2021, earning a spot in Oprah’s Book Club and a longlist nod for the Booker Prize. At just 29, Harris crafted a historical fiction masterpiece that’s as tender as it is unflinching, proving he’s a voice to watch.
The Making of Nathan Harris
Born in Oregon, Nathan Harris grew up with a passion for stories that linger. He honed his craft at the University of Oregon, where his creative writing professor, Jason Brown, nudged him toward finding his authentic voice. Harris later earned an MFA from the Michener Center at the University of Texas, diving deep into historical fiction. Inspired by bold works like Toni Morrison’s Beloved and Edward P. Jones’s The Known World, he set out to explore the human side of history’s toughest moments.
Nathan Harris’s Unforgettable Stories
Harris’s debut, The Sweetness of Water, is a lyrical powerhouse set in the fictional town of Old Ox, Georgia, during Reconstruction. The novel follows two freed Black brothers, Prentiss and Landry, as they navigate their new freedom and form an unlikely bond with a white farmer, George Walker. A parallel storyline weaves a taboo romance between two Confederate soldiers, adding layers of tension and humanity. Critics raved about Harris’s burnished prose and vivid characters, with the Washington Post calling it “miraculous.”
His second novel, The Rose of Jericho, continues his exploration of complex relationships and historical nuance, though it’s less widely known. Harris’s style blends meticulous research with emotional depth, tackling themes like race, love, and resilience. His characters, flawed yet relatable, feel like people you’d meet in real life, making his stories resonate long after the last page.
Why Nathan Harris Matters
Nathan Harris has breathed fresh life into historical fiction, shining a light on overlooked narratives of the Reconstruction era. His empathetic storytelling challenges romanticized views of the past, as Pulitzer Prize-winner Richard Russo noted, “detonating the phony romanticism” of works like Gone With the Wind. By centering Black and queer voices, Harris sparks conversations about freedom and identity that echo today, earning him accolades like the Ernest J. Gaines Award and a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honor.
- Born: Oregon, USA
- Key Works: The Sweetness of Water (2021), The Rose of Jericho
- Awards: Ernest J. Gaines Award, National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 (2021)
Snag The Sweetness of Water and dive into Nathan Harris’s soul-stirring historical fiction—you won’t look at the past the same way again!