Having heard a few mixed reviews of this one before going in, I wasn’t sure which side of the fence I’d fall on, but in the end I was swept away by Edugyan’s silky smooth prose and sense of adventure, while simultaneously in awe at her subtlety and insight.
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It’s as @bluestockingbookshelf often says, when a writer can get across an important message without sounding preachy, you know you’re onto a winner. Washington Black tackles slavery and white saviourism in a profound way that doesn’t bash you over the head with it.
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Washington is an eleven year old slave on a sugar plantation in Barbados when he is selected as a servant for eccentric scientist Titch. Although he escapes the brutalities of the plantation, Wash soon finds his life in even more danger and is forced to flee the island, and it becomes clear that Titch’s idealist and abolitionist views only stretch so far.
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This book takes you quite literally around the world, allowing you to enjoy Edugyan’s great sense of place as well as get to know a sizeable cast of characters. Some of these were more fleshed out than others, and towards the end Edugyan seems to lean more into the adventure narrative, but I couldn’t put this one down! Her style is so readable and she’s a great storyteller, so I’ll definitely be picking up more of her work!