The title may sound mundane but Tayari Jones’s An American Marriage is a layered and moving piece of work. That it comes with Oprah Winfrey’s recommendation, has ensured a wide readership and a place on the bestseller charts, which it richly deserves anyway.

On the surface the novel is a love triangle between three people, whose lives are devastated by a cruel twist of fate, but it also encompasses the inconvenient truth of racism in America, the freedom of choice for women, and at a personal level, logs the painful process of falling out of love.

Roy is an ambitious black man, who rises to corporate success from an impoverished background; his unwed mother is offered love and a name for her child by the kind Roy Sr, who is the only father the boy knows. Roy Jr. falls in love with and marries Celestial, a rich black woman and artist on her way to success. Celestial has a childhood friend, Andre, who is heartbroken when she marries another man, but stands by her regardless.

The 18-month-old marriage is shattered when Roy is arrested for a rape he did not commit and sentenced to twelve years in prison. Because of the inherent racism in the system, Celestial’s testimony is not even taken seriously and neither is DNA analysis sought. Celestial’s Uncle Banks, a lawyer, pursues an appeal, but warns the two that it will take time and money. The legal system is an abyss of prejudice and apathy, which can grind down the innocent along with the guilty.

For some time, Celestial visits and writes to Roy—their letters form a large section of the book-- but her despair slowly eats into her, and she turns to Andre for support.  Her career takes off, and Roy is saddened to note that she never mentions him; it is as if she is ashamed that her husband is incarcerated, even though she knows he is innocent.

Roy’s cellmate Walter (and there’s a surprise here) becomes his friend and protector, as he tries to keep his spirits up and wait for Banks’s efforts to come through. He does not know what to believe of the existence of his marriage when Celestial stops visiting but does not initiate divorce proceedings. Then, five years later, he is suddenly released and now comes the dreadful price all three have to pay for their love, hope and patience.

Roy had his life wrecked by injustice, and even though he was wrongly convicted, no man comes out of the prison hellhole mentally or physically intact. Celestial had not been prepared for the emotional turmoil caused by the incident, and Andre makes up for losing her to Roy by being there for her, and for him, like a true friend. But when Roy is released, he does not know what is expected of him. Their story is full of anguish, but also unexpected love.  Celestial’s imperious father, who had not quite approved of Roy, pays his legal fees and chooses to stand by him, berating his daughter for letting down her husband.  Roy meets a woman who offers sympathy and healing. There can be no happy ending when a man has suffered such a senseless tragedy, but there is acceptance and recovery. A story about romance-separation-infidelity could have been banal, but Tayari Jones writes without moral judgment, giving readers all three points of view to let them decide right and wrong.  Sometimes, all characters are flawed, but if the writer cares about them enough, she can also steer the reader into understanding their motivations and decisions, even if they seem wrong or selfish.

An American Marriage

By Tayari Jones

Publisher: Algonquin

Pages: 306