This tragicomic novel set in sixteenth-century Jamaica is a “gusty,
boisterous, [and] entertaining . . . slice of historical fiction”
(Alan Cheuse, NPR, All Things Considered). Winner of the 2014
Townsend Prize for Fiction A fortune-seeking band of ragtag sailors
travel aboard the Santa Inez, a Spanish vessel bound for the newly
discovered West Indies. She is an unusual explorer for her day,
carrying no provisions for the settlers and no seed for planting
crops, and manned by vain, arrogant men looking for gold in Jamaica.
The crew expects to make landfall in paradise after over a month at
sea. Meanwhile, the timid, innocent Arawaks—who walk around stark
naked without embarrassment and who venerate their own customs and
worship their own gods—think these newcomers must have come from
heaven. The ensuing entanglement of culture, custom, and beliefs makes
for a “comic, tragic, bawdy, sad, and provocative” novel (Library
Journal). “Darkly irreverent . . . With a sharp tongue,
Winkler, a native of Jamaica, deftly imbues this blackly funny satire
with an exposé of colonialism’s avarice and futility.”
—Publishers Weekly “Well-written . . . Winkler’s
descriptions of sea and sky as seen from a sailing ship, and of the
physical beauty of Jamaica, are spot-on and breathtaking.”
—Historical Novel Review “A thoroughly engaging adventure story
from a renowned Jamaican author, sure to enchant readers who treasure
a fabulous tale exquisitely rendered.” —Library Journal
“Every country (if she’s lucky) gets the Mark Twain she deserves,
and Winkler is ours.” —Marlon James, author of Black Leopard, Red
Wolf
Les mer
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781617751417
Publisert
2017
Utgiver
Vendor
Akashic Books
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter