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A review by amythebookbat
The Free Negress Elisabeth by Brian Doyle, Cynthia McLeod
4.0
This book fulfills requirement #2 ~ A book set in a country that starts with the letter "S". It is set in Suriname.
Elizabeth Samson was born as a free black in Suriname in the 1700's. I found it interesting how distinctions were made based on skin color. There were whites, blacks, and coloreds. The whites were mostly from Holland and France and there were also some Jewish. The blacks were generally slaves captured in Africa and sold to plantation owners, much like in the U.S. around the same time period. Blacks could have their freedom purchased or could be born free if their mother was free at the time of their birth (as was the case for Elizabeth). Colored refers to the mulattos or mixed race between the whites and blacks. They are also sometimes referred to as brown. Mulattos could be slaves or free. Mulattos could also marry whites, blacks were forbidden to marry.
Elizabeth was raised by her mulatto sister and her white husband. She was essentially raised as a white child. She was taught to read, write, play the harpsichord, and she assisted her brother-in-law with his business. She in turn became a powerful businesswoman. She ended up exiled to Holland for gossiping (which wasn't true) and after a few years, was finally permitted to return home after a lengthy court case. She was in love with a white man and lived as his wife for several years, even though they were never married. She later on decided to marry another man after the first had died. This brought on another legal battle and she eventually won, even though the man she was planning to died just prior to receiving the news that she would be permitted to marry. She ended up married to another man who eventually destroyed her empire after her death.
This was a really interesting look into a part of history that I wasn't overly familiar with. I certainly didn't know much about Suriname before reading this book. I recommend it for anyone who is interested in history and society.
Elizabeth Samson was born as a free black in Suriname in the 1700's. I found it interesting how distinctions were made based on skin color. There were whites, blacks, and coloreds. The whites were mostly from Holland and France and there were also some Jewish. The blacks were generally slaves captured in Africa and sold to plantation owners, much like in the U.S. around the same time period. Blacks could have their freedom purchased or could be born free if their mother was free at the time of their birth (as was the case for Elizabeth). Colored refers to the mulattos or mixed race between the whites and blacks. They are also sometimes referred to as brown. Mulattos could be slaves or free. Mulattos could also marry whites, blacks were forbidden to marry.
Elizabeth was raised by her mulatto sister and her white husband. She was essentially raised as a white child. She was taught to read, write, play the harpsichord, and she assisted her brother-in-law with his business. She in turn became a powerful businesswoman. She ended up exiled to Holland for gossiping (which wasn't true) and after a few years, was finally permitted to return home after a lengthy court case. She was in love with a white man and lived as his wife for several years, even though they were never married. She later on decided to marry another man after the first had died. This brought on another legal battle and she eventually won, even though the man she was planning to died just prior to receiving the news that she would be permitted to marry. She ended up married to another man who eventually destroyed her empire after her death.
This was a really interesting look into a part of history that I wasn't overly familiar with. I certainly didn't know much about Suriname before reading this book. I recommend it for anyone who is interested in history and society.