Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Set in 1760s on the Caribbean islands of Granada and Martinique, Sugar Money opens as two young slaves are forced to accept an impossible mission. A band of mendicant French monks not only run a hospital on Martinique, but they fund their venture through farming cane sugar and distilling rum, which they find they cannot do without more slaves. Seven years earlier, they had been forced from Granada in a coup by the British, and they had to leave most of their slaves behind. Now the monks devise an absurd plan to regain their slaves: They send two brothers, Emile and Lucien to Grenada to convince the monks' former slaves to escape with them.
The boys brilliantly execute the overly ambitious orders and the Granada slaves are eager to flee their British masters' grotesquely brutal treatment, and they nearly succeed, but disaster falls when British soldiers catch them in the act. Emile, the older brother, is hanged in public, but young Lucien is able to escape and this is his story to tell. Peopled with fabulous characters, Sugar Money, is a haunting novel. Lucien's voice rings clear as a bell as he tells this story of adventure, disaster, love, the tenacity of the human spirit under the crush of unspeakable cruelty.
Synopsis
Set in 1765 on the Caribbean islands of Grenada and Martinique, Sugar Money opens as two enslaved brothers - Emile and Lucien - are sent on an impossible mission forced upon them by their masters, a band of mendicant French monks.
The monks run hospitals in the islands and fund their ventures through farming cane sugar and distilling rum. Seven years earlier - after a series of scandals - they were ousted from Grenada by the French authorities, and had to leave their slaves behind. Despite the fact that Grenada is now under British rule, and effectively enemy territory, the monks devise an absurdly ambitious plan: they send Emile and Lucien to the island to convince the monks' former slaves to flee British brutality and escape with them.
Based on a historical rebellion, award-winning writer Jane Harris peoples her daring novel with unforgettable characters. Recounted by Lucien, the younger brother, this story of courage, disaster, and love, is a testament to the tenacity of the human spirit under the crush of unspeakable cruelty.
Synopsis
***SHORTLISTED FOR THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION and THE WILBUR SMITH ADVENTURE WRITING PRIZE*** Set in 1765 on the Caribbean islands of Grenada and Martinique, Sugar Money opens as two enslaved brothers - Emile and Lucien - are sent on an impossible mission forced upon them by their masters, a band of mendicant French monks.
The monks run hospitals in the islands and fund their ventures through farming cane sugar and distilling rum. Seven years earlier - after a series of scandals - they were ousted from Grenada by the French authorities, and had to leave their slaves behind. Despite the fact that Grenada is now under British rule, and effectively enemy territory, the monks devise an absurdly ambitious plan: they send Emile and Lucien to the island to convince the monks' former slaves to flee British brutality and escape with them.
Based on a historical rebellion, award-winning writer Jane Harris peoples her daring novel with unforgettable characters. Recounted by Lucien, the younger brother, this story of courage, disaster, and love, is a testament to the tenacity of the human spirit under the crush of unspeakable cruelty.