Washington Black

A novel by Esi Edugyan

Although recommended by a colleague I put off picking up this book for several weeks. After now finishing it over a couple of days I can’t imagine why I hesitated.

The story follows the life of George Washington Black, ‘Wash’, from his vicious and violent childhood as an eleven year old slave on a Barbados sugar plantation, across the oceans to America, and then to the frozen wastes of the Arctic.

It is here that he is abandoned by the very man that took him under his wing and saved him from certain death on the plantation. Wash is then forced to tentatively make his own way in the world as a free man. He
eventually begins to find both love and peace.

The book, inspired by a true story, holds you from the beginning then keeps you in its full-on adventure gripping embrace right to the end.

Submitted by a member of the Library Services Team