Good Reads / Community Library Notes
Washington Black
Esi Edugyan
Review by Priscilla Comen
Washington Black
Esi Edugyan
Review by Priscilla Comen
Washington Black, by Esi Edugyan, is the story of a young slave boy named George Washington Black. He is owned by a cruel master, Erasmus Wilde, and lives on the Faith Plantation in Barbados. Washington narrates this story and we see everything from his point of view. They grow cane there and the slaves are treated horribly.
But Washington, or Wash as he is called, is to be a servant to Erasmus’ brother Christopher, known as Titch. Wash is to help Titch with experiments and measurements as Titch explores the island for rare species and natural beings. Titch is a naturalist, an abolitionist, and a kind man. He has designed a “cloud” machine and intends to launch it from a high hill near the plantation. He notices that Wash can draw exact sketches of all he sees and gives him paper and pencils. He also teaches him to read and write his letters.
When the brothers’ cousin, Philip, comes to Faith to visit, Wash feels a dread. Philip tells the brothers that their father has died in the Arctic. Their mother wants Titch to manage the plantation and Erasmus to return to England to settle affairs. But when cousin Philip kills himself, everything changes. A slave girl, Esther, has told the master that Wash went with Philip. Everyone suspects Wash has killed Philip. Titch gathers Wash and his belongings and they climb the Corvus peak where slaves had carried the gear for the “Cloud Cutter” to the top, and off they fly.
They crash into a sailing vessel’s deck bound for Virginia with a load of tobacco and rum. Titch has a friend there and they go to find him. They must lie low because a slave trader is searching for Wash. Titch’s friend shows them the underground railroad. Titch wants Wash to go to Canada on this route. Wash has a choice, as a free man. He says no. He will stay with Titch.
They travel north to the Arctic. Titch wants to see his father’s grave. Instead he finds his father is alive, doing experiments and living in an igloo with his companion Peter. When his father dies, Titch walks into the icy cold of the Arctic, never to be seen again..
What becomes of Wash? He is a smart, literate black man with a bounty on his head in a country still holding slaves. Author Edugyan continues the adventures until the end of this saga. Titch’s father said Wash had a ring of luck around his head. Does he continue to have luck? Find out in this excellent book on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.
But Washington, or Wash as he is called, is to be a servant to Erasmus’ brother Christopher, known as Titch. Wash is to help Titch with experiments and measurements as Titch explores the island for rare species and natural beings. Titch is a naturalist, an abolitionist, and a kind man. He has designed a “cloud” machine and intends to launch it from a high hill near the plantation. He notices that Wash can draw exact sketches of all he sees and gives him paper and pencils. He also teaches him to read and write his letters.
When the brothers’ cousin, Philip, comes to Faith to visit, Wash feels a dread. Philip tells the brothers that their father has died in the Arctic. Their mother wants Titch to manage the plantation and Erasmus to return to England to settle affairs. But when cousin Philip kills himself, everything changes. A slave girl, Esther, has told the master that Wash went with Philip. Everyone suspects Wash has killed Philip. Titch gathers Wash and his belongings and they climb the Corvus peak where slaves had carried the gear for the “Cloud Cutter” to the top, and off they fly.
They crash into a sailing vessel’s deck bound for Virginia with a load of tobacco and rum. Titch has a friend there and they go to find him. They must lie low because a slave trader is searching for Wash. Titch’s friend shows them the underground railroad. Titch wants Wash to go to Canada on this route. Wash has a choice, as a free man. He says no. He will stay with Titch.
They travel north to the Arctic. Titch wants to see his father’s grave. Instead he finds his father is alive, doing experiments and living in an igloo with his companion Peter. When his father dies, Titch walks into the icy cold of the Arctic, never to be seen again..
What becomes of Wash? He is a smart, literate black man with a bounty on his head in a country still holding slaves. Author Edugyan continues the adventures until the end of this saga. Titch’s father said Wash had a ring of luck around his head. Does he continue to have luck? Find out in this excellent book on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.