The Sentence: Pulitzer Prize Winning author of The Night Watchman

The Sentence is a novel by Louise Erdrich that was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2022. It is a ghost story, a tale of passion, and a complex marriage. The book explores what we owe to the living, the dead, the reader, and the book. It is set in a small independent bookstore in Minneapolis and is haunted by the store's most annoying customer, Flora, who dies on All Souls Day but refuses to leave. Tookie, a former inmate who has landed a job selling books, must solve the mystery of the haunting while also trying to understand the events of Minneapolis during a year of grief, astonishment, isolation, and furious reckoning. The novel is praised for its mystery, emotional depth, and the magic of words on paper. Erdrich is considered one of the greatest living American writers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 20 January 2022
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2022




Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louise Erdrich has crafted a mesmerizing and thought-provoking novel titled "The Sentence." In this captivating tale, Erdrich delves into the realm of ghosts, exploring themes of passion, complex marriages, and the relentless pursuit of errors.


"The Sentence" poses profound questions about our obligations to the living, the dead, the reader, and the book itself. Set within a charming independent bookstore in Minneapolis, the story unfolds from November 2019 to November 2020. The bookstore is haunted by the store's most annoying customer, Flora, who refuses to leave even after her death on All Souls Day. Tookie, a former inmate who has found a new job selling books, becomes entangled in the mystery of this haunting while also attempting to comprehend the tumultuous events that unfold in Minneapolis during a year marked by grief, astonishment, isolation, and fierce reckoning.


"The Sentence" is a testament to Erdrich's exceptional literary prowess. With its intricate mystery and captivating ghost stories, the novel unfolds like a rich, emotional, and profound narrative. Erdrich's writing is characterized by her unique blend of strange, enchanting, and funny elements, tackling subjects such as motherhood, doom, regret, and the profound magic of words on paper.


The author has been hailed as one of the greatest living American writers by various prestigious publications, including the Guardian, New York Times, and Mail on Sunday. Her work has been praised for its ability to capture the contemporary Native American experience, rendering it both strange and familiar.


"The Sentence" is a must-read for fans of literary fiction, as it offers a captivating blend of mystery, humor, and profound insights into the human condition. Erdrich's exceptional storytelling skills and her ability to delve into the complexities of human relationships make this novel a truly remarkable achievement.

Weight: 650g
Dimension: 242 x 335 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472156990