Washington Black
The Booker-shortlisted International Bestseller
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4.0 • 93 Ratings
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- £4.99
Publisher Description
NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES STARRING TOM ELLIS, RUPERT GRAVES AND STERLING K. BROWN
* SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2018 * FINALIST FOR THE CARNEGIE MEDAL AND THE ROGERS WRITERS TRUST FICTION PRIZE * LONGLISTED FOR THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE 2019 * SHORTLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD 2020 * WINNER OF THE GILLER PRIZE *
'A masterpiece' ATTICA LOCKE
'Strong, beautiful and beguiling' OBSERVER
'Destined to become a future classic ... that rare book that should appeal to every kind of reader' GUARDIAN
When two English brothers take the helm of a Barbados sugar plantation, Washington Black - an eleven-year-old field slave - finds himself selected as personal servant to one of them. The eccentric Christopher 'Titch' Wilde is a naturalist, explorer, scientist, inventor and abolitionist, whose single-minded pursuit of the perfect aerial machine mystifies all around him.
Titch's idealistic plans are soon shattered and Washington finds himself in mortal danger. They escape together, but then Titch disappears and Washington must make his way alone, following the promise of freedom further than he ever dreamed possible.
Inspired by a true story, Washington Black is an extraordinary tale of a world destroyed and made whole again.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Canadian novelist Esi Edugyan’s novel follows Washington Black, a young slave who escapes from a Barbados plantation in the 1830s. After Black forges a life-changing friendship with an English abolitionist and inventor, the duo embark on a series of treacherous and unforgettable adventures that take them to Arctic ice fields and North African deserts. Soaring and hopeful one moment, violent and sorrowful the next, Washington Black explores the devastating emotional legacy of slavery and the outer limits of human resilience.
Customer Reviews
Not very profound
Felt like it wanted to be a commentary on white guilt through the eyes of a slave but it came across quite shallow, no new ideas. And that really interesting cover, with the boat in the sky... it’s afloat for all of two pages before it crashes and is gone forever