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A review by dorouu
Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende
5.0
Allende is, without a doubt, one of the best historical fiction writers out there. Island Beneath the Sea follows one woman and the people around her for about four decades while taking the reader through huge historical events and the lives of the people at that time in Haiti, Cuba, and Louisiana over four decades. I found myself Googling different characters (like Mackandal) and being amazed at how well Allende integrated real people into her stories.
The main person you follow in the story is Tete, who was born into slavery to a mother who tried everything she could to prevent the birth. Tete's journey starts as a child and then her enslavement under Valmorain, another important character, and eventually her life as a free Black woman in Lousiana. As a reader, you become a part of historical events such as the Haitian revolution, the French revolution, and the Lousiana purchase. Each character has background and depth and I found myself holding space for all of them, even those I despised. In just a few short sentences Allende can bring someone new to life. In a book? You feel as if you truly understand someone.
The book is artfully written, full of beautiful imagery. I could see how Haiti was stripped of natural resources and bullied by France after their independence. Every once in a while, the book switches from third person omniscient to Tete's story telling of what happened from her perspective. I think more people should read historical fiction based in the global south during colonization and slavery. Maybe then they would understand that the US/EU isn't the hero in everyone's story.
The main person you follow in the story is Tete, who was born into slavery to a mother who tried everything she could to prevent the birth. Tete's journey starts as a child and then her enslavement under Valmorain, another important character, and eventually her life as a free Black woman in Lousiana. As a reader, you become a part of historical events such as the Haitian revolution, the French revolution, and the Lousiana purchase. Each character has background and depth and I found myself holding space for all of them, even those I despised. In just a few short sentences Allende can bring someone new to life. In a book? You feel as if you truly understand someone.
The book is artfully written, full of beautiful imagery. I could see how Haiti was stripped of natural resources and bullied by France after their independence. Every once in a while, the book switches from third person omniscient to Tete's story telling of what happened from her perspective. I think more people should read historical fiction based in the global south during colonization and slavery. Maybe then they would understand that the US/EU isn't the hero in everyone's story.