Washington Black

A Novel

De: Esi Edugyan

Narrado por: Dion Graham

ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW'S TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • MAN BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST • “A gripping historical narrative exploring both the bounds of slavery and what it means to be truly free.” —Vanity Fair

Eleven-year-old George Washington Black—or Wash—a field slave on a Barbados sugar plantation, is initially terrified when he is chosen as the manservant of his master’s brother. To his surprise, however, 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, they must abandon everything and flee together. Over the course of their travels, what brings Wash and Christopher together will tear them apart, propelling Wash ever farther across the globe in search of his true self. Spanning the Caribbean to the frozen Far North, London to Morocco, Washington Black is a story of self-invention and betrayal, of love and redemption, and of a world destroyed and made whole again.

©2018 Esi Edugyan (P)2018 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Perfectly executed . . . Soaring . . . More than a tale of human bondage, it’s also an enthralling meditation on the weight of freedom, wrapped in a rousing adventure story stretching to the ends of the earth.” —Renée Graham, The Boston Globe

“Terrifically exciting . . . An engrossing hybrid of 19th-century adventure and contemporary subtlety, a rip-roaring tale of peril imbued with our most persistent strife . . . Discover what the rest of the world already knows: Edugyan is a magical writer.” —Ron Charles, The Washington Post

“Riveting . . . [A] towering achievement . . . Edugyan is one of our sharpest and deepest writers of historical fiction.” —David Canfield, Entertainment Weekly

Truly moving.

This book gives you a perspective that rings true! If you have even a modicum of sympathy for another's plight (let alone empathy!), you will enjoy this book. Listener beware of uncomfortable language.

Profound & Rich; thought-provoking!

It's hard finding the words for this review, except that I think everyone should read it. Still shocked about this part of our history, and my empathy runs deep. It's truly a thought-provoking book which helps you see things better in your normal life - at least it has done this for me. This book is a treasure.

Mostly great, anti climactic ending.

Wow. Vivid storytelling set in historically realistic setting. So many metaphors in the dialogue. But the story has trouble coming to a satisfying end.

Artistry

The author must be an artist, the language used paints a vivid image of the world. Even in the most heinous scenes, the hero notes how the light splays across the body. While the pace can be languid at times, the words drew me into the scene. The narration is the best I have heard since I started using Audible (a 100 or so books). I normally listen at 2x speed and I had to slow it down to understand his accent but once I was used to it I thoroughly enjoyed his style, inflection and accents. A must have for your library!

I didn't want it to end

I took a break after the initial section of great brutality on a Barbados sugar plantation. But I came back to breathtaking writing and excellent narration. A moving, beautiful, important novel.

An excellent , compelling , book.

Makes you think about the strength of a person subjected to slavery!
Beautifully written !

Picturesque!

Beautifully written, an awesome depiction of how ones life can be impacted and influenced by those who surround, and how much our ‘scars’ can determine our actions throughout life. Read it!

Dazed and confused in the 1830’s

The author bundles myriad loose ends into an impossible story. The beginning is gripping, the middle bearable but tedious. The final chapters are confusing and frustrating; the protagonist eventually wanders into a blinding dust storm, neatly paralleling the reader’s experience.

Mr Graham’s reading was admirably communicative.

One of my favorite books of all time...

A deep exploration of history, racism, fate and destiny, and the soul-deeo drive for art, learning, self-discovery, and growth. I cannot recommend it highly enough and the performance / reading was perfect.

A Wonder

How does this author know these characters down to their core??! Great read!! I would love to follow Wash further!