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Blonde Roots

From the Booker prize-winning author of Girl, Woman, Other
By Bernardine Evaristo
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Blonde Roots by Bernardine Evaristo flips history on its head by imagining a world where Africans enslave Europeans. The story follows a European woman named Doris, who is captured and enslaved by the African 'Aphrikan' empire. Through her journey, the novel explores identity, power dynamics, and cultural perspectives, offering a thought-provoking twist on historical narratives.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this innovative book if you're intrigued by thought-provoking narratives that flip historical perspectives. The story provides a satirical and insightful take on slavery by reversing racial roles, inviting readers to explore themes of identity, culture, and societal structures. Fans of speculative fiction and social commentary will likely find this a compelling and engaging read.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Presents an imaginative inversion of the transatlantic slave trade - in which 'whytes' are enslaved by black people. This title brings the shackles and cries of long-ago barbarity uncomfortably close and raises questions about the society.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A searing exploration of the transatlantic slave trade from the Booker Prize-winning author of Girl, Woman, Other.

Imagine if the transatlantic slave trade was reversed. Imagine Africans as the masters and Europeans as their slaves...

Now meet young Doris, living in a sleepy English cottage. One day she is kidnapped and put aboard a slave ship bound for the New World. On a strange tropical island, Doris is told she is an ugly, stupid savage. Her only purpose in life is to please her mistress.

Then, as personal assistant to Bwana, Chief Kaga Konata Katamba I, she witnesses the horrors of the sugarcane fields. Slaves are worked to death under the blazing sun. But though she lives in chains, Doris dreams of escape—of returning home to England and those she loves...

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Blonde Roots by Bernardine Evaristo is lauded for its imaginative reimagining of history, provoking essential discussions on race, culture, and history. Critics praise it for offering a fresh perspective on the transatlantic slave trade, noting its ingenious style and potential as a feminist classic. The novel is commended for its blend of humour and intelligence, delivering a powerful narrative that makes historical events vividly relatable and real.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141031521

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 April 2009

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 194g

Pages: 272

Collections

Bernardine Evaristo Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Books

About the Author

Bernardine Evaristo, MBE, is the award-winning author of eight books of fiction and verse fiction that explore aspects of the African diaspora. Her novel Girl, Woman, Other made her the first black woman to win the Booker Prize in 2019, as well winning the Fiction Book of the Year Award at the British Book Awards in 2020, where she also won Author of the Year, and the Indie Book Award. She also became the first woman of colour and black British writer to reach No.1 in the UK paperback fiction chart in 2020. Her writing spans reviews, essays, drama and radio, and she has edited and guest-edited national publications, including The Sunday Time's Style magazine. Her other awards and honours include an MBE in 2009. Bernardine is Professor of Creative Writing at Brunel University, London, and President of the Royal Society of Literature. She lives in London with her husband. www.bevaristo.com

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