A Mercy

A Mercy is Toni Morrison's ninth novel. It was published in 2008. Set in colonial America in the late 17th century, it is the story of a European farmer, his purchased wife, and his growing household of indentured or enslaved white, Native American, and African characters. It made the New York Times Book Review list of "10 Best Books of 2008" as chosen by the paper's editors. In Fall 2010, A Mercy was chosen for the One Book, One Chicago program. In 2024, it was ranked 47th in the New York Times list of the best 100 books of the 21st century.