54 pages 1 hour read

Sutton E. Griggs

Imperium in Imperio

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1899

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Imperium in Imperio by Sutton E. Griggs tells the story of Belton Piedmont and Bernard Belgrave, two highly intelligent Black men in the late 19th-century South who grow up under contrasting social conditions and ultimately become rivals within an underground Black government aiming to address systemic racism and achieve true equality for Black Americans. The book includes violent language, oppression, enslavement, and death by suicide.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Imperium in Imperio by Sutton E. Griggs is a seminal work exploring racial and political themes in post-Reconstruction America. Reviews praise its bold narrative and complex characters, though some criticize its occasionally didactic tone. Overall, it remains a powerful and thought-provoking novel reflecting early African American literary strengths and struggles.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Imperium in Imperio?

Imperium in Imperio by Sutton E. Griggs will captivate readers interested in African American literature, the Reconstruction era, and early 20th-century social issues. Fans of The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois and The Marrow of Tradition by Charles W. Chesnutt will find its exploration of racial identity and political activism compelling.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Historical Fiction

African American Literature

Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction

Themes

Society: Politics & Government

Identity: Race

Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Topics

Race / Racism

Education