The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead tells the story of one woman's perilous journey of escape from slavery in pre-Civil War America. Cora is a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia, an existence made even more hellish as her status as an outcast among her fellow Africans. Approaching womanhood - where ever greater pain and danger threatens - she encounters Caesar, a slave recently arrived from Virginia. Caesar tells her about the 'underground railway' and she takes the momentous decision to accompany him on his journey North. A harrowing, engrossing story - and a very timely examination of the dark side of American history.