Property

by Valerie Martin

A slave insurrection on a Louisiana sugar plantation in 1828 sets the stage for an examination of property. What is property? Who is property? How far would you go to keep your property? These questions plague Manon Gaudet, wife of a slave owner and a slave owner in her own right.

There is something else bothering Manon: her slave, Sarah, has mothered two children with Manon’s husband. The bitterness and resentment she feels toward Sarah is immeasurable. What will Manon do when her husband is killed by slaves? Will she continue to endure the agony of living with Sarah and her children?

This novel is a quick, yet compelling read. Martin’s skillful writing elicits the reader’s sympathy for both mistress and slave. Property is historical fiction without being dry or full of unnecessary detail. Highly recommended.

1/3/07