Nathan Harris

Nathan Harris is an American novelist known for his contributions to historical fiction and literature exploring race, identity, and the aftermath of the Civil War. Harris's debut novel, "The Sweetness of Water," became a New York Times bestseller and was selected for Oprah's Book Club and Barack Obama's Summer Reading List. Set in rural Georgia following the Emancipation Proclamation, the novel examines the lives of three men—one white and two Black—as they navigate the complexities of a post-Civil War society.

"The Sweetness of Water" received significant recognition, including the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, and was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, the Carnegie Medal for Excellence, and the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. It was also shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize. The novel was named a best book of the year by Washington Post, Time, Boston Globe, and Oprah Daily. The Booker Prize committee commended the novel for its exploration of themes such as race, sexuality, violence, and grief through well-developed characters. Harris was named a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree and received the University of Oregon's Kidd Prize. He was also a finalist for the Tennessee Williams Fiction Prize.

Harris began writing "The Sweetness of Water" as an undergraduate English major, focusing on the experiences of slave brothers during the Emancipation Proclamation. He completed the novel while pursuing an MFA at the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas. Harris's work is noted for its focus on historical fiction and its exploration of enduring themes related to race, power, love, and sexuality.

In his second novel, "Amity," Harris returns to the Reconstruction era, chronicling the journeys of separated Black siblings in the aftermath of the Civil War. The novel explores the meaning of freedom in a society grappling with the legacy of slavery and touches on Mexico's political landscape during the period. Through his novels, Harris has established a reputation for insightful storytelling and for chronicling the complexities of the post-Civil War American experience.