Today's Read Team 
Colson Whitehead, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, is back with his latest literary achievement, The Prophet’s Garden. The novel explores themes of faith, identity, and redemption in contemporary America, set against the backdrop of a decaying urban garden. The story follows a group of marginalized individuals who come together to transform an abandoned garden in a decaying city into a sanctuary.
In an exclusive interview, Whitehead delves into the intricacies of his new book, revealing the deeper layers of his exploration into spiritual and societal issues. For Whitehead, The Prophet’s Garden is not just a novel about personal redemption—it’s also a commentary on the gentrification of urban spaces and the challenges that disenfranchised communities face in finding places of peace.
Whitehead’s characteristic blend of historical fiction and speculative elements is present once again in The Prophet’s Garden. The novel begins with the arrival of a disillusioned former pastor, John, who stumbles upon an abandoned lot. With nothing more than a few tools and a deep yearning for meaning, John gathers a group of outcasts—including a former activist named Annie and a young man searching for his missing father—to build something new in the heart of a crumbling city.
The garden becomes a metaphor for the resilience of the human spirit, but also a reflection of the characters’ need for personal and collective healing. Through the novel, Whitehead explores the complexity of spirituality in a modern, fragmented world. He also examines how people from vastly different backgrounds can find common ground through shared struggles.
The concept of sanctuary is a central theme in The Prophet’s Garden, which builds upon Whitehead’s previous explorations of how physical spaces and historical forces shape individuals’ identities. For Whitehead, the garden represents more than just a place of refuge. It is a living, breathing symbol of hope, a contrast to the corporate-driven urban landscape that dominates the city. The abandoned lot where the garden is created is a poignant reminder of the spaces that are often erased or repurposed for profit, but in Whitehead’s hands, it becomes a sacred space of renewal.
“The idea of the garden came to me when I was thinking about how people find places to heal in a broken world,” Whitehead says. “In cities like New York, where gentrification is happening so rapidly, there are fewer spaces for people who need them. I wanted to show that even in places of decay, there’s potential for something beautiful, something that can heal.”
Whitehead’s writing process is meticulous, as always. He spent months visiting urban gardens and speaking with community activists about their experiences transforming neglected spaces into oases of life and beauty. His research into faith-based communities also informed his portrayal of the characters’ spiritual journeys. Whitehead’s own background, growing up in a neighborhood where places of worship were often central to community life, plays a role in how he understands the powerful influence of faith in urban settings.
Critics have already begun to praise The Prophet’s Garden for its rich character development and compelling narrative. Many have noted Whitehead’s ability to weave historical insights into contemporary settings, making the novel feel timely and urgent. The book has already been nominated for several literary awards and is expected to be a contender for the 2025 National Book Award.
Whitehead’s ability to seamlessly blend speculative fiction with deeply personal storytelling has solidified him as one of America’s most important contemporary authors. The Prophet’s Garden builds on the themes of race, social justice, and collective healing that have appeared in his previous works, but this time, he adds a layer of spiritual depth and the hope that redemption is possible, even in the most unexpected of places.
Fans of Whitehead’s work are eagerly anticipating The Prophet’s Garden’s release, which is scheduled for late June 2025. The novel is expected to resonate deeply with readers in light of ongoing conversations about urban renewal, racial equity, and the role of spirituality in contemporary life.
The Prophet’s Garden is already being described as one of the most anticipated books of 2025, and if Whitehead’s previous works are any indication, this novel is poised to be another landmark achievement in his career.