"The Book of Negroes: Illustrated Edition" by Lawrence Hill

Abducted from her West African village at eleven-years-old, Aminata Diallo is forced into slavery on an indigo plantation in South Carolina. Trapped in a lifetime of slavery, Aminata draws on the strength of her ancestors and the skills she learned as young girl to improve her life as best as she can given the violence and constraints that surround her. Her determination lands her the opportunity to register her name in the Book of Negroes, a historic British military ledger allowing three thousand Black Loyalists passage on ships sailing from Manhattan to Nova Scotia.


The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill takes the reader on an incredible journey from West Africa, to an American plantation, on to a small community in Nova Scotia, the coast of Sierra Leone in West Africa and finally to London, England. The journey belongs to fictional character Aminata Diallo but is that of the thousands of Africans forced into slavery.


This book is an incredible work of historical fiction. Having studied African History in university I was instantly drawn to this book and it did not disappoint. In fact, this is the best book, fiction or non-fiction, I have read on this subject. And the illustrated edition brings the book to life, making it an incredible keepsake edition.


The book contains over 100 images - early documents, maps, archival photos, period paintings and actual pages from the original handwritten Book of Negroes. These are the images that inspired Lawrence Hill and the ones he drew from to craft the story of Aminata.


If you enjoyed reading The Book of Negroes the first time around you will love this version as it brings the story to life. If you haven't read the book, you must pick it up. This is a fascinating story, one of depth and length that will keep you engrossed until the very last page. The illustrated version is a must-read for any history lover.

Comments

  1. TCJanuary 18, 2012 at 3:00 PM

    This sounds like a really interesting read, thanks for the great review.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Reading In WinterJanuary 18, 2012 at 9:50 PM

    I read the non-illustrated version and loved it ... now I want to read the illustrated version, it sounds really interesting! Nice review. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Debbie RodgersJanuary 19, 2012 at 8:55 AM

    I enjoyed the original, my only complaint being the coincidental opportunities constantly offered to Aminata. But I suppose one can chalk them up to a device to move the plot through so many of the African experiences in early America.

    This illustrated version sounds like it is well worth it to take a second look at this novel.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ArchivedProfileJanuary 19, 2012 at 8:34 PM

    Mine arrived! It's not the illustrated edition but the pages are different. They seem weathered, but intentionally. I can't wait to get to it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ann SummervilleJanuary 20, 2012 at 11:01 AM

    This sounds like it would be a good book club read. Apart from being abducted from their home land, I think it must have been such a shock to end up in a cold area like Nova Scotia.
    Ann

    ReplyDelete
  6. Gilion at Rose City ReaderJanuary 20, 2012 at 8:03 PM

    That sounds really amazing. I just read Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth about the British slave trade. This looks like it would be a good companion to that one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownJanuary 22, 2012 at 4:23 AM

    I loved The Book of Negroes and can see how an illustrated edition would really improve it. I'll keep an eye out for a copy as I think it would be good to see what they include.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ordinary ReaderSeptember 14, 2012 at 12:46 AM

    I am lucky enough to have the illustrated version too and agree that it adds a lot to the story. So very good. One of the best books I've ever read.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"The Guestbook" by Holly Martin

Image
Welcome to Willow Cottage - throw open the shutters, let in the sea breeze and make yourself completely at home.  Oh, and please do leave a comment in the Guestbook! Annie Butterworth is the landlady of Willow Cottage, a beautiful cottage in the English countryside with a colourful array of guests.  Every guest is encouraged to write their thoughts in the guestbook and do they ever!  Love, loss, happiness, sadness, guilt, affairs, births, and surprises, it’s all in there.  Even Annie’s life gets caught up in the book. As a young widow, Annie herself is going through some changes.  And the appearance of her brother-in-law, celebrity crime writer Oliver Black isn’t helping.  As the guests of Willow Cottage go about their seaside vacations, Annie and Oliver must figure out how to move on in their lives, and most importantly, if they will do so together. The Guestbook by Holly Martin is a lovely, sweet, and unique book.  Written in the form...
Read more

Literary Giveaway Blog Hop

Image
I am so excited to be participating in the Literary Giveaway Blog Hop, hosted by Judith at Leeswammes' Blog . There are over 50 participants hosting giveaways on their blog between October 15 and October 19. Be sure to hop around and check out all the awesome giveaways! My Giveaway Award season is underway in the Canadian literary world and to celebrate I would like to send someone some fabulous Canadian literature. One lucky winner will be able to choose which book they would like me to send them. Here are the choices (click on title to find out more about the book): A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews (bought at library sale) Life of Pi by Yann Martel The Last River Child by Lori Ann Bloomfield The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden (bought at library sale) Two of the books were bought at a library sale as mentioned. They are still in good condition but are obviously well-loved and do still have the library stickers on them. The other t...
Read more

"Dreaming of Elsewhere: Observations on Home" by Esi Edugyan

Image
“But where are you from, really?” This is a question that Canadians of all walks of life are often asked.  Part of our identity as Canadians is that we all come from somewhere else, and no matter how long ago, it is a defining part of who we are.   But for many people, this question is about more than where their family came to Canada from.  For many, it brings about a question of home and belonging.  These are the ideas that Esi Edugyan explored in her 2013 Henry Kreisel Memorial Lecture, Dreaming of Elsewhere: Observations on Home .  Born in Canada to parents from Ghana, Esi Edugyan has travelled to and lived in various countries, all the while searching for her identity and coming to understand the meaning of home. As an author, Edugyan also reflects on Canadian literature and the notion of the “Canadian story.”  Her wildly successful novel, Half-Blood Blues , was set outside of Canada, and something she often heard was that it was not a t...
Read more