A review by chrismichcon
Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

4.0

I have not read Dante's Inferno, but I can't think of any better depiction of Hell than Let Us Descend. Annis sits in a line of matriarchs and inherits their knowledge and fight (and their not entirely useful fairy-godmother/spirit). The very realistic and vivid descriptions of slavery are obviously incredibly sad, but there's a tinge of hope/resilience in it that's very powerful. I think some of the callbacks to the tutor's Dante lesson were a bit heavy handed and unnecessary, but the writing is beautiful as ever and makes me want to get through all of Jesmyn Ward's oeuvre.