Tuesday 17 May 2011

REVIEW: THE BOOK OF NEGROES- Lawrence Hill


After the struggle of Midnight's Children, this book was truly a pleasure to read. Canadian author Lawrence Hill presents to us the full story of the 18th/19th century slave trade, through the story of charismatic narrator Aminata Diallo. The plot may be fictional, but there is no denying that Aminata's tale was a true story for many Africans during that cruel time. 'The Book Of Negroes' itself is a true document, with the 'names and details of 3,000 black men, women and children, who, after serving...behing British lines...sailed from New York City to various British colonies'.

Stolen from the village of Bayo, Africa, Aminata experiences the slave trade at its most horrific: the three month trek to the coast, the disgusting conditions on board the slave ships, the monstrously degrading behavious of the white slave owners, and the lack of freedom. This book may be a little difficult to digest were it not for Aminata's intelligence and spirit, and the fact that in spite of adversity, she finds love. The power of love and the hope it provides is evident throughout. Aminata's bravery and resilience was incredibly inspiring; to still fight on after constant betrayal is unbelieveable. Though you know that she has survived, for she is telling her story as an old lady, you find yourself rooting for all of her loved ones, and hoping that they will one day be reunited. Of course, Aminata had to be educated and literate in English in order to realistically be writing her life story in her eloquent style: in a similar position to the real-life former slave come writer, Olaudah Equiano. I would be very interested in an account from a not-so-literate slave, one who only speaks 'Gullah'- the slaves' own language...does anybody know if such a novel exists?

It is incredible how fear can stop society from stepping up and declaring that something is wrong. The slave trade went on for hundreds of years before the cruelty of it was recognised: a fact I find difficult to comprehend. How can fellow human beings treat each other like that, and attempt to justify it? Aminata's calm and composed narrative enhances the horror far more than a seething one. Hill has got the tone of his prose completely right here. Though the huge issue of the slave trade cannot be summarised in one novel, a peep-hole into one slave's life is the correct route towards emotional empathy, never forgetting, and prevention from it ever happening again.

After reading two pretty heavy-going novels, time for a little light relief- Bill Bryson's Mother Tongue. Stay tuned!

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