Captive

by Patricia Burton

Set in the prosperous port of Liverpool in the late 18th century, Captive is an atmospheric saga of love, friendship and unconquerable dignity. In a journey stretching from the degradation of the Caribbean slave trade to the decadence of wealthy society in Georgian England, the sadistic cruelty of mankind is exposed.The novel chronicles the struggles of three slaves, Daniel, Marcus and Sullah as they seek to redefine their lives in the most challenging of circumstances. Marcus, a groom, and Sullah, the nursemaid, each survive the horrors of the notorious ‘middle passage’, an experience that helps forge their strong characters. Daniel, a powerful and handsome 22 year old, is a more vulnerable individual and he struggles to come to terms with his identity both as a slave and as a man of mixed race. Following the death of the plantation owner, the three friends must leave their home in Jamaica to make a new life with their mistress at Fernleigh Hall in Liverpool. On arrival in England, they discover that their status is much less clearly defined than it was in Kingston and Daniel in particular suffers from the uncertainty of his position. The family at Fernleigh is beset by problems, and conflict seethes beneath a social veneer of respectability. The slaves are at the centre of a chain of events which culminate in tragedy, but which ultimately demonstrate the resilience of the human spirit against seemingly impossible odds.The tone of Captive echoes the rich tapestry of a time of unprecedented social upheaval, fluctuating morality, industrial expansion and economic growth. It explores a period of prosperity that had its shameful roots in the trafficking of human cargo. It strips bare an era when appearance was more important than reality and when hypocrisy mattered more than truth. This is a story of a shameful period in this country’s history, but it is also about a thriving town and its warm-hearted people. Finally, it is a tribute to man’s ability to rise above his fate and achieve nobility of spirit.

430 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 18, 2005

Reviews

[Louise Child · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointing.

Extremely poorly edited .A grubby little tale of slavery .The noble slave of mixed parentage dying very conveniently . As did other inconvenient characters .Really bad .

[Pamela Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good read, I am now going to read the follow up. I thought I understood slavery, and yet there is so much to know and to understand the impact on the thousands of human beings who were bought and sold in such a cruel way.

[Kate O`neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking

Slow to start but soon became engrossed. A work of fiction, but well researched as to become believable. I would definitely recommend this book to readers wanting more than flim flam. I hope that there is more to come from this author

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

History and love story all in one.

[William F Herndon Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Characters

The story remained interesting and fluid. Each character blended into the story flawlessly. Nice balance of tragedy and happiness, no preaching.