The Confessions of Nat Turner: A Novel

The Confessions of Nat Turner is William Styron's novel about Nat Turner, leader of the 1831 slave rebellion in Virginia. The uprising resulted in the deaths of almost sixty men, women, and children. Published during the civil rights movement, the novel draws on the historical Nat Turner's confession to his attorney while awaiting execution in a Virginia jail. Styron's portrayal presents Turner as neither hero nor demon, but as a man driven to seek vengeance for centuries of injustice against his people. The narrative examines slavery as a brutal institution and offers a layered characterization of one man's violent struggle against oppression. This ebook edition includes an illustrated biography of William Styron with original letters, rare photographs, and documents from the Styron family and Duke University Archives.