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Washington Black

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Washington Black

By: Esi Edugyan
Narrated by: Dion Graham
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SOON TO BE A MAJOR TV SERIES STARRING TOM ELLIS, RUPERT GRAVES AND STERLING K. BROWN

'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.

©2018 Ideas of March Inc. (P)2018 Random House Audio African American Fiction Historical Fiction Thought-Provoking Heartfelt Inspiring Caribbean
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A rollicking adventure expertly perforned. I read this book but enjoyed the audiobook more, so welll was it narrated.

An adventure

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This book is so beautiful and awful and completely absorbing I finished it awhile back and it……they have stayed with me

Wonderful wonderful listen

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This book reminds me of Treasure Island, I think in the sense that I had the familiar feeling of it being a bit of a boy’s own adventure story and not really for me. I read a lot of books about the transatlantic slave trade and I mostly find them a lot more accessible than this - such a masculine perspective maybe. It does feel a lot deeper than Treasure Island with the reflections but still has that sense, to me. I’m curious about the true elements of the story as it’s completely fantastical - it’s also really a time period I’ve read less about when it was all drawing to a close. And I’ve become more fascinated in the West Indies since reading and understanding more about Scotland’s part in the crimes there.

A strange combination

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Esi Edugyan must have a clear recollection of a previous life to be able to create the world of a slave growing up in the fields and then taken under the wing of a master before being abandoned ... it is such an evocative, emotional account - brought to life by the brilliant narration of Dion Graham - utterly consuming ... I’ve lived through every minute and just can’t recommend it highly enough!

I feel as though I have been on this journey alongside Washington himself!

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Beautifully narrated; at times early on I thought of abandoning this as I was struggling to understand where the story was going, but I'm glad I persevered. Wash is ultimately led on a trail of self discovery, to figure out who he is outside of the stereotype and status given to him at birth. The ending was a little underwhelming for me and I was left with questions, but this isn't always a bad thing.

An adventure of self purpose

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