Literary
Beloved
In 1870s Ohio, Sethe, a formerly enslaved woman, lives in a house haunted by the spirit of her baby daughter. When a mysterious young woman called Beloved arrives, the past she has tried to escape is pulled closer.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1987
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 362
- Format
- Book 1 of 3 in Beloved Trilogy
Read this if you want a demanding, beautiful novel that treats the legacy of slavery as living memory.
Skip this if you want an easy read; it is emotionally heavy and structurally complex.
The feel
Content warnings
Also reported by Hardcover readers:
Quick answers about Beloved
- What is Beloved about?
- In 1870s Ohio, Sethe, a formerly enslaved woman, lives in a house haunted by the spirit of her baby daughter. When a mysterious young woman called Beloved arrives, the past she has tried to escape is pulled closer.
- Who should read Beloved?
- Read it if you want a demanding, beautiful novel that treats the legacy of slavery as living memory. Skip it if you want an easy read; it is emotionally heavy and structurally complex.
- How long and how fast is Beloved?
- It is a slow-paced, medium read of about 362 pages, first published in 1987.
- Does Beloved have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Slavery, Child death, Sexual assault, Violence, Racism, Grief.
- Can I borrow Beloved for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Beloved; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Beloved?
- Readers who liked it often move on to Kindred, The Color Purple, The Only Good Indians.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Bookshop.org | Check price | Buy new from Bookshop.org |
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
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| Audiobook | ||
| Libro.fm | Check price | Buy audiobook from Libro.fm |
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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