Cambridge
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Book Overview
One of England's most widely acclaimed young novelists adopts two eerily convincing narrative voices and juxtaposes their stories to devastating effect in this mesmerizing portrait of slavery. Cambridge is a devoutly Christian slave in the West Indies whose sense of justice is both profound and self-destructive, while Emily is a morally-blind, genteel Englishwoman.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0679736891
ISBN13:9780679736899
Release Date:February 1993
Publisher:Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Length:192 Pages
Weight:0.55 lbs.
Dimensions:0.5" x 5.1" x 7.9"
Customer Reviews
3 ratings
A powerful and disturbing book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
This is a powerful and disturbing historical novel about the days of slavery in the west indies, not long before slavery was finally abolished. The prose is beautifully crafted and takes you right into the period. The book is easy to read, but for most readers it will not be a particularly satisfying or enjoyable book (as you can see from other reviews) because no main character is particularly sympathetic or easy to identify with. Rather this book gives you a look at a period of history where no one comes out particularly well. However, it evokes the period and attitudes sharply, and is a clear reminder that while we have a ways to go in race relations, we have made some substantial progress.
Well worked, thought provoking and historic
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
I enjoyed Cambridge. The story is told from multiple perspectives which would explain the open ending. Who's version is the truth? How are their interpretations of events determined by their different cultural backgrounds? How do these multiple versions of a history comment upon the historical representation of actual Caribbean and African colonization? The characters are complex and contradictory - likeable and detestable all at once. One gets a glimpse into colonial life, attitudes and beliefs - not just one sided but as they probably were, complex, multiple, and contradictory. Caryl Phillips has done his research, the prose is authentic for the time, his work is based upon historical evidence (there is a recent dissertation that describes his historical influences). A good and well worth read.
Brilliant. Phillips is a modern master.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
Caryl Phillips gives new meaning to the term "literary fiction". His prose rings and resonates, his themes are timeless, and his vision is limitless.
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