This book was recommended to me because I was going to Haiti on a mission trip and I was told that even though this novel is fiction, it is also historical in nature, and basically, a really good book. I would certainly agree with that assessment!
The story begins in Saint-Domingue - later know as Haiti - in 1770. One of the main characters is a Frenchman, Toulouse Valmorain, who comes to the island to check on his father and the family plantation. His father is ill and ends up dying, leaving Valmorain to run the plantation, much to his dismay. Valmorain's life becomes entwined with a slave girl, Zarite (Tete), whose mother was African and father was white, when Tete is purchased by Valmorain when Valmorain decides to marry and bring his young wife to Saint-Domingue.
Since the reader learns a lot about Tete's life, loves and her relationship with Valmorain though chapters written by her, I found it interesting that you don't understand how much Tete hates Valmorain until the end of the book. In the beginning, Valmorain is only 20 years old and he seems to dislike the mistreatment of the slaves working his plantation. He doesn't do anything to stop his overseer, Cambray, from violently abusing the slaves however. Still, he doesn't seem like a bad guy in comparison to those around him. He seems to "protect" Tete from others who might do her harm. By the end of the novel though, we hear from Tete how much she despises him and how he started raping her at the age of 11!! It's like the author leads you along thinking that Valmorain is an ok guy, considering the times, but then WHAM, by the end of the novel you are thinking about what a horrible person he is. Still not sure what to make of that.
The novel addresses the political unrest in Saint-Domingue, the uprising of the slaves and the successful revolt of the slaves. Since the rebels goal was to kill all the white people in Haiti during the uprising, Valmorain and Tete flee to New Orleans, thanks to the warning from Tete's lover - and love of her life, Gambo. Tete stays with Valmorain because of his son, Maurice, (with his now deceased wife) and their daughter, Rosette, who she will not be separated from for any reason.
There were so many awesome characters in this book that provided support for Tete through all of her pains and sorrows: Violette, Loula, Maurice, Dr. Parmentier, Tante Rose, Gambo, Pere Antoine and of course, Zacharie. Fortunately, the good people outweighed the horrible people, like Cambray and Hortense. Still, a lot of sadness in Tete's life.
This is an excellent read. It's a powerful story about Haiti, and slavery in general, long before Abraham Lincoln was president.
Wendy's Rating: *****
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