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1940s: An epic symphony of Caribbean life
The Polished Hoe
What you need to know before your trail
Mary-Mathilda is one of the most respected women of the island of Bimshire (also known as Barbados). She is the fair-skinned mistress of a cruel plantation manager .
One day however, she calls the police to confess to a crime. The island and those who know here are stunned and what follows is as shocking as they come. The late night vigil which follows brings together elements of the island’s African past and the tragic legacy of colonialism in one epic sweep. Stunning and shocking in equal measure. Like an earthquake but more destructive.
Locations
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Barbados
This is the story of the island and its history -an insight into colonial life in the British “colonies”- Barbados is known as Little England. Being the fair-skinned mistress of a cruel plantation manager, Mary tells her story and it’s a story which has repercussions across the centuries and into the future.
The story and subtexture to this novel comes on in a stream of consciousness peppered with local flavour and dialect, a kind of social commentary on the island, its history and the race relations between the English and the locals. Black history and issues surrounding identity and slavery are examined under painfully bright lights. With its uncertain political situation brewing and discontent rippling the waters, the tension in the air is sharp.All fitted into a period of 24 hours.
Booktrail Boarding Pass Information: The Polished Hoe
Author/Guide: Austin Clarke Destination: Barbados Departure Time: 1940s
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