Cambridge

This book by Caryl Phillips is the third one I've read by him now - and seriously, they're really good. I loved this one because of its connections in sheer brutality. I loved the changing nature of the characters and the ending 

*SPOILER ALERT*

where he gets hanged - is absolutely brilliant.


Characters:

My favourite character is David - that is Cambridge when he is David. Going through the backstory of what happened to Mr Brown, David and his wife are in England and his wife dies in childbirth. David then becomes a three dimensional character who is sent of to Africa to preach the Gospels. He becomes a slave, lies in a hut and then murders Mr. Brown. A brilliant character with an intense and race-charged backstory - this man goes from being a hated criminal to a sympathised human like the events that take place in Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. 

Themes:

As it is with Caryl Phillips, the theme of race and historical conventions of race are always the most prominent. But here, I think the most important theme is humanisation and demonisation - where do we stop seeing someone else as human and is it really fair to take someone else's human rights away from them, no matter the circumstances? 

Storyline:

The interwoven storylines of Emily Cartwright and Cambridge are brilliant - the fact that David Henderson has a last name and then has it taken away from him, so he simply becomes "Cambridge" and then Emily Cartwright seems not to change at all until the end where her baby dies. Almost like an eye for an eye really. 

Verdict:

I give this book 8 out of 9. 

100% for characters: I think Cambridge was one of the best African characters I have ever encountered. 

100% for themes: The humanisation and demonisation of various characters by others really gives a lovely three dimensional perspective on to the characters' psychological states. A brilliantly produced theme. 

2/3 for storyline: Just because I wanted it to be longer. I didn't want it to end :)