âA rare triumphâ (The New York Times Book Review), this powerful memoir about the divergent paths taken by two brothers is a classic work from one of the greatest figures in American literature: a reflection on John Edgar Widemanâs family and his brotherâs incarcerationâa classic that is as relevant now as when originally published in 1984.
A âbrave and brilliantâ (The Philadelphia Inquirer) portrait of lives arriving at different destinies, the classic John Edgar Wideman memoir, Brothers and Keepers, is a haunting portrait of two brothersâone an award-winning writer, the other a fugitive wanted for a robbery that resulted in a murder. Wideman recalls the capture of his younger brother, Robby, details the subsequent trials that resulted in a sentence of life in prison, and provides vivid views of the American prison system.
A gripping, unsettling account, Brothers and Keepers weighs the bonds of blood, affection, and guilt that connect Wideman and his brother and measures the distance that lies between them. âIf you care at all about brotherhood and dignityâŚthis is a must-read bookâ (The Denver Post). With a new afterword by his brother Robert Wideman, recently released after more than fifty years in prison.