The Sellout: A Novel

Paul Beatty

May 24, 2016

The Sellout: A Novel by Paul Beatty is a searingly funny and critically lauded novel that tells the story of an African American man living in present day Southern California. The novel centers on the lovelorn protagonist, who makes a bizarre and controversial decision to reinstitute slavery in his “agrarian utopia.” Through a series of witty and subversive musings on race and justice, the protagonist challenges the legal and cultural boundaries he previously took for granted.Beatty tells the story from the first-person point of view of the protagonist, inviting readers to emotionally engage with a complex individual who struggles to reconcile the sometimes conflicting aspects of his identity. Written in a unique lyrical style, Beatty’s prose ranges from streetwise musing to satirical parables. The characters of the novel are brought to life with a sharp sense of humor, and their conversations are often peppered with wise cracks and references to popular culture.The Sellout: A Novel explores themes of identity, law enforcement, and race in modern America. As the protagonist struggles to redefine himself apart from society’s molds, readers are challenged to push beyond the boundaries of convention-- and ponder the human capacity for change. In shaping his own future, the protagonist raises many questions about what it means to take power into one's own hands, and lead a life of purpose and conviction—questions that the novel does not definitively answer. By doing so, the novel encourages its readers to form their own conclusions about justice, race, and identity. This thought-provoking and highly entertaining novel is sure to leave readers considering their place in the world.