Ambitious, fast paced adventure

Washington Black — Esi Edugyan ( Serpent’s Tail, $32.99) reviewed by Louise Ward, Wardini Books

This Booker long lister reads like an epic tale of adventure, bravery, cruelty and mystery.

We begin with the knowledge that Washington Black has survived slavery and is a free man, still only in his teens, but this knowledge doesn’t save us from the tension in the story. Washington’s first narrative takes us to Faith Plantation in Barbados in the 1830s where he is someone’s property, observing the death of his first master and the completely terrifying arrival of the new one, Erasmus Wilde. The old stories and mythologies of the slaves are part of life as Washington and his protector, Big Kit, watch ‘the dead go free.’ The relationship between Wash and Big Kit is powerful — she has watched over him with a violent love and their inevitable separation is like a sacrifice.

Erasmus is cruel and his plantation owner’s attitude towards his slaves is unpalatable and confronting. The arrival of his brother, Titch, is the first catalyst to drive Washington’s adventure forward. Titch is an explorer and inventor and needs a boy to help him; Wash is the right size to be ballast in his airship, the Cloud-cutter, and their complex relationship begins, leading Wash on to America, the Arctic, London, Holland and Morocco. Esi’s command of phrasing is incredible — she has a thing for the feel and smell of paper and describes Wash’s first experience of this luxury item thus: ‘But I will never forget the feeling of paper in my hands. I hated those first months, rough, an unfamiliar thing, like compressed dust.’

After a series of traumatic events, Wash and Titch make a dramatic escape and the scene is set for a masterclass in irony and observation. The character list is huge, each person weaving in and out of Wash’s story as is needed. This could be confusing but is so neatly and naturally done that these personalities are vibrant and necessary. Titch is not always Wash’s main foil; mixed race Tanna has a foot in two worlds and offers another perspective and some hope of happiness for Wash.

Washington Black is an ambitious, fast paced adventure story, beautifully told. Let’s see if it’s a winner.