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Dark Knowledge
New York City, late 1860s. When young Chris Harmony learns that members of his family may have been involved in the illegal pre-Civil War slave trade, taking slaves from Africa to Cuba, he is appalled. Determined to learn the truth, he begins an investigation that takes him into a dingy waterfront saloon, musty old maritime records that yield startling secrets, and elegant brownstone parlors that may have been furnished by the trade. Since those once involved dread exposure, he meets denials and evasions, then threats, and a key witness is murdered. Chris has vivid fantasies of the suffering slaves on the ships and their savage revolts. How could seemingly respectable people be involved in so abhorrent a trade, and how did they avoid exposure? And what price must Chris pay to learn the painful truth and proclaim it?
231 pages, Paperback
Published January 5, 2018
530 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 11, 2017
Reviewed by Ben Green for Reader Views (12/17)
In “Dark Knowledge,” author Clifford Browder takes us to a time shortly after the American Civil War in the late 1800s. Here he tells the story of a slightly affluent family with a rich family history. However, things become problematic for the family when the main character Chris begins to investigate the family's past and how it acquired its wealth and status. Of course, this does not go over well with the other family members, and in particular, Uncle Jake. Uncle Jake and his son become the story's protagonists. Unlike Uncle Jake, who is a seafaring "man's man," Chris is a bit of a yellow-bellied bookworm who needs to take up boxing. Most of Chris's investigations are through letters from his grandfather's chest which is conveniently located in his home. He also conducts some interviews and does other research. The chest, however, and the letters inside are the big focus of the book; in fact, almost too much of a focus. “Dark Knowledge” is also a bit of a "coming of age story," with both Chris and his sister Sal being of dating age or I guess really marrying age, given the setting.
“Dark Knowledge” starts off with a lot of potential and in the first couple of chapters, all of which are relatively short, I really felt I was going to enjoy this book. Unfortunately, like the main character Chris, “Dark Knowledge” suffers from never really being sure of what it is trying to be. As the name would suggest, it deals with some really dark subject matter. However, the characters' behaviors and dialogues never truly reflect that. It is clear that the family drama between Chris and Uncle Jake is supposed to be the serious stuff of great consequences; however, the only real threat here is to the family reputation and the most action-packed conflict is more or less an 1800s fist fight.
Ultimately, what “Dark Knowledge” by Clifford Browder comes down to is a late 1800s family drama set to the backdrop of the slave trade. Technically the book works — it’s written well and the first couple chapters really suck you in. It is also clear that the author thoroughly researched the time period and put some real work into the historical side, which I greatly appreciate and which makes this story much better than other historical fictions I have read.
In “Dark Knowledge,” author Clifford Browder takes us to a time shortly after the American Civil War in the late 1800s. Here he tells the story of a slightly affluent family with a rich family history. However, things become problematic for the family when the main character Chris begins to investigate the family's past and how it acquired its wealth and status. Of course, this does not go over well with the other family members, and in particular, Uncle Jake. Uncle Jake and his son become the story's protagonists. Unlike Uncle Jake, who is a seafaring "man's man," Chris is a bit of a yellow-bellied bookworm who needs to take up boxing. Most of Chris's investigations are through letters from his grandfather's chest which is conveniently located in his home. He also conducts some interviews and does other research. The chest, however, and the letters inside are the big focus of the book; in fact, almost too much of a focus. “Dark Knowledge” is also a bit of a "coming of age story," with both Chris and his sister Sal being of dating age or I guess really marrying age, given the setting.
“Dark Knowledge” starts off with a lot of potential and in the first couple of chapters, all of which are relatively short, I really felt I was going to enjoy this book. Unfortunately, like the main character Chris, “Dark Knowledge” suffers from never really being sure of what it is trying to be. As the name would suggest, it deals with some really dark subject matter. However, the characters' behaviors and dialogues never truly reflect that. It is clear that the family drama between Chris and Uncle Jake is supposed to be the serious stuff of great consequences; however, the only real threat here is to the family reputation and the most action-packed conflict is more or less an 1800s fist fight.
Ultimately, what “Dark Knowledge” by Clifford Browder comes down to is a late 1800s family drama set to the backdrop of the slave trade. Technically the book works — it’s written well and the first couple chapters really suck you in. It is also clear that the author thoroughly researched the time period and put some real work into the historical side, which I greatly appreciate and which makes this story much better than other historical fictions I have read.
September 21, 2017
In New York in the late 1860s, Chris Harmony uncovers some pre-Civil War papers that hint that his grandfather could have been involved in the slave trade. He feels a need to find out what the truth is, but other family members don’t feel the same way- and even attempt to steal the papers. As he asks around, he finds clues that link other society people to the slave trade, too. And, fearing exposure now that trading in humans is illegal and looked down on in New York, those people set out to stop him.
Chris, his sister, their mother, and their cousin are all for getting to bringing it to daylight, even if it means their own family name will be besmirched. Their other relatives, and others in the shipping industry, are very much against it. They have their money, they have made their way into society, and they want the status quo held.
The story takes Chris from the docks to society balls. It’s a historical mystery, with a lot of family dynamics happening, and with a bit of a love story, too. It looks like Browder has done a lot of research into what trade and shipping was like back then. It’s pretty well written, but I found the ending very abrupt and unsatisfying – not so much of an ending so much as a “see you next week, same time, same channel”. I don’t know if this will be a series, and we’ll see the story given a better ending or not. I would have liked to have seen Chris’s sister take a more active role, too. Chris’s character is fairly well filled out, but the others not so much so. The author has promise, but this one gets four stars out of five.
Chris, his sister, their mother, and their cousin are all for getting to bringing it to daylight, even if it means their own family name will be besmirched. Their other relatives, and others in the shipping industry, are very much against it. They have their money, they have made their way into society, and they want the status quo held.
The story takes Chris from the docks to society balls. It’s a historical mystery, with a lot of family dynamics happening, and with a bit of a love story, too. It looks like Browder has done a lot of research into what trade and shipping was like back then. It’s pretty well written, but I found the ending very abrupt and unsatisfying – not so much of an ending so much as a “see you next week, same time, same channel”. I don’t know if this will be a series, and we’ll see the story given a better ending or not. I would have liked to have seen Chris’s sister take a more active role, too. Chris’s character is fairly well filled out, but the others not so much so. The author has promise, but this one gets four stars out of five.
January 31, 2018
This excellent novel examines the illegal slaver ships trading system.
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April 1, 2018
Throughly enjoyed this historical book! I recommend to read! Facts accurate!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews