The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill

This was a re-read, to prepare for our Book Club presentation this coming Saturday.  I enjoyed it even more the second time.  I think this must be historical fiction at its very best, because the story is woven through the historical events so well that the two are almost inseparable: one is not the vehicle for the other, at least not obviously so.

There are events here I never knew about: the Black Loyalists most obviously, plus the fact that the slave trade started so early and was so widespread. It was the Portuguese who first sailed away from Africa with captives in the 15th century!

The author really cares for his subject, and this has been borne out by the related reading that I have done.

It should be a good discussion at Book Club this Saturday!