Washington Black

Parts of it were really really good, but other parts went on and on. It didn’t feel very cohesive. Still worth a read though. Several profound thoughts on slavery included quotes like this: “you were more concerned that slavery should be a moral stain upon white men than by the actual damage it wreaks on black men”.

This adventure story begins in the harsh slave climate of 19th century Barbados and takes us to the Arctic and Virginia, England, Amsterdam and Morocco, all in the service of telling the story of a young slave with no family who imagined himself with found family in the person of his owner’s abolitionist brother. Along the way we are introduced to scientific innovation and cultural differences. This is like a window on the past.

Magical historical adventure? Uh fantastic

The character Washington Black is well developed. The plot is imaginative and mostly plausible as Black journeys around the globe. Easy to read.