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“A powerful new epic . . . [Kingsolver] has with infinitely steady hands worked the prickly threads of religion, politics, race, sin and redemption into a thing of terrible beauty.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review The Poisonwood Bible is a story told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959. They carry with them everything they believe they will need from home, but soon find that all of it—from garden seeds to Scripture—is calamitously transformed on African soil. What follows is a suspenseful epic of one family’s tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction over the course of three decades in postcolonial Africa.The novel is set against one of the most dramatic political chronicles of the twentieth century: the Congo's fight for independence from Belgium, the murder of its first elected prime minister, the CIA coup to install his replacement, and the insidious progress of a world economic order that robs the fledgling African nation of its autonomy. Taking its place alongside the classic works of postcolonial literature, this ambitious novel establishes Kingsolver as one of the most thoughtful and daring of modern writers. 

The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver is a powerful and provocative story about a missionary family's journey to the Belgian Congo in the 1950s. The Price family - father Nathan, mother Orleanna, and their four daughters, Rachel, Leah, Adah, and Ruth May - are filled with hope and idealism as they set out to bring the word of God to the African people. But their dreams are soon shattered by the harsh realities of life in the Congo, where they are met with poverty, disease, and hostility.

Nathan Price is a stern and unyielding man, determined to convert the Congolese people to Christianity. He is convinced that he is doing God's work, but his methods are often brutal and counterproductive. Orleanna is a strong and resourceful woman, but she is also deeply conflicted about her husband's mission. She loves him, but she cannot condone his actions. The four daughters each have their own unique experiences in the Congo, and they all come to question their father's faith and their own beliefs.

The Poisonwood Bible is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that explores the complex relationship between faith, colonialism, and the human experience. It is a story of love, loss, and redemption, and it is a powerful reminder of the dangers of fundamentalism and the importance of understanding other cultures.

The novel has been praised for its vivid portrayal of the Congo, its complex characters, and its insightful exploration of the human condition. It has been translated into more than 30 languages and has sold millions of copies worldwide. The Poisonwood Bible is a must-read for anyone interested in African history, colonialism, or the power of faith.