The Book of Negroes

Image via WikipediaThe Book of Negroes, by Lawrence Hill - A Book Review

This was a fascinating story and one I am delighted to write a short review for.    I was given this book to read from a friend because she likes to keep up with all the books that receive a stamp of approval from Canada Reads.

While the story is fiction, there are many facts about how slaves came to settle in Nova Scotia, which is something I did not know, and it is something that is not taught in our schools.   Our history lessons are sadly lacking it seems.

The story follows the life a young girl, captured and sold into slavery in the late 1700's.  From the horror of walking for months through Africa, chained, beaten and branded - how she was taught to "catch babies" - how she learned to read - how she went from Africa, to the United States, then to Nova Scotia, back to Africa and finally to England.

The amount of research that had to go into the writing of this book staggers my mind.  From the details of life in her village, to the horrible conditions of the slave ship, the slave block, life on a plantation, the loss of family- all vividly portrayed.

This book is full of a history few want to read, but is told in such a way that you don't realize you are learning.

A must read.