An American Marriage

An American Marriage – Tayari Jones

Celestial and Roy are newlyweds in Atlanta, embodying the hopes of the new American South. Roy is a young executive with big ambitions who grew up in a small Louisiana town, and Celestial is a talented artist on the verge of success with her handmade dolls. They are in love and building a future together, even if their marriage already has its tensions.

Then, during a visit to Roy’s hometown, Roy is arrested and accused of a crime he did not commit. Despite Celestial’s certainty of his innocence, he is convicted and sentenced to twelve years in prison. An American Marriage, by Tayari Jones, follows what happens to their relationship as the years pass and the distance between them grows.

At first, Roy and Celestial write letters to each other, holding on to their love. But as time goes on, Celestial finds herself unable to sustain the marriage, and she turns for comfort to Andre, her childhood friend and the man who introduced her to Roy. When Roy’s conviction is overturned after five years and he is released, all three must face the question of what they owe each other and what kind of future is possible.

Told in the alternating voices of Roy, Celestial and Andre, the novel explores love, loyalty, marriage, race and the devastating impact of wrongful incarceration on Black families in America. Jones writes with empathy, humor and insight, refusing easy answers.

Winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction and an Oprah’s Book Club selection, An American Marriage is a powerful and moving read for fans of literary fiction. It contains mature themes, including references to sexual violence and incarceration.