Sacred Hunger (Booker Prize Winner)
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4.3 • 46 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Winner of the Booker Prize
A historical novel set in the eighteenth century, Sacred Hunger is a stunning, engrossing exploration of power, domination, and greed in the British Empire as it entered fully into the slave trade and spread it throughout its colonies. Barry Unsworth follows the failing fortunes of William Kemp, a merchant pinning his last chance to a slave ship; his son who needs a fortune because he is in love with an upper-class woman; and his nephew who sails on the ship as its doctor because he has lost all he has loved. The voyage meets its demise when disease spreads among the slaves and the captain's drastic response provokes a mutiny. Joining together, the sailors and the slaves set up a secret, utopian society in the wilderness of Florida, only to await the vengeance of the single-minded, young Kemp.
Customer Reviews
Sacred Hunger
Altogether, an excellent read. Reminds one what a despicable practice slavery was, in every detail. No one involved in the trade escapes it's ramifications.
Sacred Hunger
Read this book if you like well written historical fiction and have some patience- the book is almost 700 pages. It takes awhile for the author to set up the story, but even the set-up pages are lively and fascinating. I loved the book, the language used by the writer and its political message.