George Washington Black, or "Wash," an eleven-year-old field slave on a Barbados sugar plantation, is terrified to be chosen by his master's brother as his manservant. To his surprise, the eccentric Christopher Wilde turns out to be a naturalist, explorer, inventor, and abolitionist. Soon Wash is initiated into a world where a flying machine can carry a man across the sky, where even a boy born in chains may embrace a life of dignity and meaning--and where two people, separated by an impossible divide, can begin to see each other as human. But when a man is killed and a bounty is placed on Wash's head, Christopher and Wash must abandon everything. What follows is their flight along the eastern coast of America, and, finally, to a remote outpost in the Arctic. What brings Christopher and Wash together will tear them apart, propelling Wash even further across the globe in …
George Washington Black, or "Wash," an eleven-year-old field slave on a Barbados sugar plantation, is terrified to be chosen by his master's brother as his manservant. To his surprise, the eccentric Christopher Wilde turns out to be a naturalist, explorer, inventor, and abolitionist. Soon Wash is initiated into a world where a flying machine can carry a man across the sky, where even a boy born in chains may embrace a life of dignity and meaning--and where two people, separated by an impossible divide, can begin to see each other as human. But when a man is killed and a bounty is placed on Wash's head, Christopher and Wash must abandon everything. What follows is their flight along the eastern coast of America, and, finally, to a remote outpost in the Arctic. What brings Christopher and Wash together will tear them apart, propelling Wash even further across the globe in search of his true self.
I devoured, but slowly, because there's so much to absorb here. Not sure what coherent thoughts I have, nor am I sure how to think about the ending. But I'm so glad I finally read this!
A beautiful piece of literary fiction.
Ein Leben, das unter grausamen Bedingungen beginnt, mit überraschenden Wendungen. Die Geschichte ist gut erzählt, Brutalitäten werden bis auf einen Fall nur angedeutet. Trotzdem hat mich der Hintergrund daran gehindert, die Geschichte in einem runter zu lesen. Ich brauchte Pausen. Wer mit der bedrohlichen Athmosphäre klar kommt, sollte das Buch auf jeden Fall lesen.
