Slave Old Man: A Novel Hardcover – May 1, 2018

Chamoiseau's quest for identity in the mélange of cultures that make up the French Caribbean drives the author and this story. His search is exhilarating, a work in progress that brings him close to his destination, but with a way still to go. But for his efforts, however, those on a similar quest would find the going much harder. Be sure to read the "Translator's Afterword". It's masterful. It encouraged me to go back and start the book again to make sure I drew what I could from the storyAfterword. In the fifth "Folio" [chapter], the narrative voice jumps from the third person to the first person in mid-paragraph. I am not sure what the author had in mind.My best guess: Chamoiseau is taking the slave story from the past to the present. Please leave me a comment telling me how you see it. Thanks.

Lovely writing. Seems to be an excellent translation. Reading it can be a very worthwhile use of one's time -- for the knowledge embedded in the story, for the thought-provoking insights, for the beauty of the language used and the descriptions presented. Although reading a library hard copy (lovely), I actually bought the kindle copy in order to share a passage with two young people trimming my trees one of the days I was reading it -- an inspirational and descriptive passage about the forest through which the slave was fleeing.

This Translation wanders back and forth between Allegory and History, with legend, imagination and fancy thrown in for entertainment. The 'stream of consciousness' is outstanding and as you immerse into the main character you become the 'Slave Old Man' and come to understand so much more about the plantation life in that time and place.Wonderful reading, great work of translation while keeping the messaging.

Exuberant tale of an escaped slave on the island of Martinique.Original in french creole (equivalent of pidgin English). Long translator's note about french creole. Almost scared me from trying to read the book. Long Translators afterword. Skip the first and last sections, and you will have a poetic read.

This is a great book. I could not put it down until it was done. Every spare moment, I was reading this book. The symbolism is fantastic. The way things evolve is so interesting. The characters are real and draw you in. I highly recommend this book.

Good book, a bit dark, makes a statement you are a pay attention kind of reader.

one of the best little books I have read in a long time, read it in one sitting, and then read it again, there is a lot packed into this powerful little novel

This is an authentic piece of literature, an example of what writing fiction can be when a writer with masterful skills gets to work.