The View from Coyaba

by Peter Abrahams

A Jamaican family, descended from escaped slaves, is involved in the histories of both Africa and Jamaica

Genres: Fiction

440 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1985

About the author

Peter Abrahams was a South African-born Jamaican novelist, journalist and political commentator.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book 20 years ago, and was very moved by this sentence which is still relevant today:

To live with the conscious knowledge of the shadow of uncertainty, with the knowledge that disaster or tragedy could strike at any time; to be afraid and to know and acknowledge your fear, and still to live creatively and with unstinting love: that is to live with grace. 

[Signe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of black people from the slaves in the Caribbean over racist USA to a mission in Liberia, as seen through the tale of one family. This angle makes it personal and possible to relate to.

I can never tire of this book, though I do not agree with the authors final Black Consciousness conclusion - that blacks must segregate themselves from whites in order to find their true identity.