A Quick Note On This Review: This article includes affiliate links to Bookshop.org as a way of supporting both local bookshops and my own ability to write.
George Washington “Wash” Black has known little kindness in his life. Born as a slave on a plantation in Barbados, Wash is looked after by Big Kit, and they being planning an escape until the master of the plantation dies. The new owner of the plantation, Erasmus Wilde, has a propensity for cruelty and violence that turns plantation life into a living hell, until Wash and Big Kit get called up to the big house to help serve Wilde’s brother, Christopher “Titch” Wilde. Titch enlists Wash to help with some of his experiments while he lives in Barbados, but when an accident leaving a white man dead happens, Titch facilitates Wash’s escape, kicking off an adventure that is far more wonderful and terrifying than Wash could have ever imagined.
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan is a novel that could fall into the same category as many stories that focus on slavery; there’s little doubt that the institution is present throughout the novel as Wash’s status as a former slave serves as a ghost that constantly drives him onwards. However, what’s striking about Washington Black is that it doesn’t focus as heavily on the atrocities of slavery the way that Colson Whitehead’s Underground Railroad does. Instead, it’s easy to assume that once the reader leaves the plantation with Wash, there’s precious little exploration of how the scars of slavery have impacted Wash, because he’s far too busy learning what it means to grow up and deal with the harshness of a world indifferent to his suffering.
There’s much that could be said about this: the book is not inherently a study in the physical traumatic events that slavery entails, but Edugyan does explore the ways that living in slavery, even when freed from the condition, damages one’s ability to live life to the fullest. Wash is given an opportunity that not many received during the time of chattel slavery: he got to experience freedom from the oppressive life on the plantation, but he was also disfigured from his time in Barbados and spent the majority of his freedom looking over his shoulder or seeking out the man who helped him escape. In some ways, Washington Black is more than a bildungsroman; it’s also an exploration of the psychological damage done when one is perceived as nothing more than property, and that is part of what makes the novel so interesting, aside from the adventures Wash takes and the style Edugyan uses to render them.
For casual readers, Washington Black would likely appeal to anyone who’s looking for a historical novel that explores the lives of former slaves. I have not delved too deeply into these kinds of stories, but Washington Black would appeal to anyone who is looking for something lighter than Whitehead’s brutal — and honest — portrayals of the physical cruelties of slavery and yet remains interested in learning more about how escaped and freed slaves lived with the aftermath. The novel would also appeal to anyone looking for an adventure novel that ties into a coming-of-age story, because Wash’s story is rich in experiences that are ideal for any entertaining work of fiction. Further, if you are interested in books that are adapted into television shows or movies, Washington Black was adapted into a limited series that would likely appeal to those interested in adaptations.
For writers, Washington Black presents a variety of lessons in the way one can tell a bildungsroman within a historical time period. Whether or not slavery is a main focus, Edugyan’s ability in using first person narration added a thrilling element to the story that made the historical components of Wash’s adventures come to life in ways that are unusual for historical fiction. Additionally, Edugyan has an intriguing way of managing the changes in setting so that it feels part of the narrative and the struggle of growing up, which could be fascinating for writers looking to incorporate elements like these into their own works, regardless of genre.
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What’s Next?
I am an avid reader and have quite a few thoughts on how some books could benefit both people that want to be entertained and those looking to sharpen their literary skills.
If you’re interested in finding out more about what I’ve been reading – and how it could benefit you – I will be publishing those thoughts on a weekly basis. Check back next week for a discussion of Deborah Harkness’s Shadow of Night!
The Writerly Review 