Incomparable World

by S.I. Martin, Bernardine Evaristo (Introduction)

In the years just after the American Revolution, London was the unlikely refuge for thousands of black Americans who had fought for the British in exchange for a promise of freedom. Incomparable World is their story, an unconventional debut novel that follows the adventures of three African Americans who have escaped their master's lash only to find themselves outcast once again-but this time on the harsh streets of London's West End. After the British defeat, Buckram, Georgie George, and William Supple sail to London, preferring to attempt a new life there than face possible recapture and a return to slavery. Penniless, without any prospects for employment, and treated as outsiders by British society, they are forced into a life of hustling and petty crime. Their only hope for escape, Georgie George manages to convince them, is an outrageous robbery that would make them rich beyond their wildest dreams. Full of vivid prose and accurate period detail, Incomparable World is a rich historical thriller that reveals a forgotten chapter of American history.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Race, London, British Literature, 18th Century

227 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Kalliope · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the March choice in my year-long subscription to an UK bookshop. And it was welcomed because the main interest for me of this subscription is the surprise aspect and the opportunity to widen my interests and reading. I did not know the author, nor was I aware of the historical context on which the novel is based. When the American Revolution finished, Britain offered those enslaved Africans who had fought on their side, to emigrate to Britain, free. Given that the Abolition Act of Slavery did not take place until 1833, this was, or so it seemed, a generous offer.

The novel begins in May 1786 and finishes one and a half years later and takes place mostly around the Covent Garden area in London. One short episode takes the reader to Brazil. The story makes us follow three of those lucky few who were offered to parachute in London, but with no parachute that would offer them a soft landing in a city where one needed a job, a position, lodging etc., if one were to feel truly free. The novel therefore belongs to the “picaresque” genre, as the three become “picaros” using their wit to survive, which entails deceiving others and not letting oneself be deceived. Although this is a London twenty years more modern than Hogarth, I kept having his images in my mind as I read this, since it was the setting what I found the most interesting part of the novel.

From the introduction by Bernardine Evaristo (Booker 2019) Also the Editor for the Black Britain series by Penguin , I learn that Martin was for a few decades a tour guide for “Black London”, and I think I would have enjoyed following him in one of those tours a tad more than reading his novel. I missed not learning more about the conditions behind Britain’s decision to bring home those warriors, and the consequences. Also, the novel is very engaging in the way it is written but the craftiness of the language did not combine well with the main character, Buckram, who is illiterate, and when this Buckram arrives in Grosvenor Square, he marvels at the oval shaped garden, sterile and undisturbed as a German park, sat in its centre, made me wonder at the occasion when this former slave from the American Southern plantations would have learnt what a German garden was.


3,5 Stars

[K.J. Charles]

A hugely powerful short novel of former US slaves turned Revolutionary War soldiers now scraping an existence in London in the 1780s when Britain's black population was at its pre 20th century peak.

This is amazing. Full of historical detail including a lot of real people, and rammed with the stench and filth of the city. Terrific sense of place and time.

It is a brutal book in some ways because those were brutal times. England's perfidy to the soldiers it used is clear, as is the endemic racism, but there's a lot more. Class divides among the black community, between the few privileged Brit-born and the miserable American imports, and awful crab bucket jostling for survival. And over everything the shadow of slavery. There were a few lines that made me need to put the book down for a moment--one when Buckram is stunned by the sight of a black adult with her parents because he literally has never seen that before; another when William has a near panic attack at being in a house full of white Americans.

But there is also a thread of friendship and, unstoppably, hope, and a few moments of spectacular satisfaction. And mostly the sense of...oh, imaginative expansion at this vivid picture of a part of London that very rarely gets shown and never from this perspective. A great book.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is part of the Black Britain Writing Back series that Bernadine Evaristo put together. The collection is designed to highlight a variety of black British writers and to help reconfigure black British literary history. Martin is a teacher, historian and author. His writings are to address the lack of black British history. As well as his academic writing he also does walking tours entitled “500 years of black London”. This is a novel set in 1780s London (It was written in 1996). It is a little known fact that there was a significant black population in London especially at the time. After the Revolutionary Wars in the 1770s a number of black slaves who fought with the British had to leave the US. Some went to Nova Scotia, a few to Brazil, some to Africa and quite a few to Britain. Martin has imagined the lives of a group of them, based on what is actually known mixed with some story telling. As one reviewer says:
“It’s a fascinating and conflicted take on what it means to be Black in Britain, a racist country that nonetheless lets you make it home.”
The topography of London feels correct as does the slang that is used. Some of the descriptions feel as though they could have happened at any point in London’s history:
“The noise from the crowd didn’t quite drown out the noise from the massive alehouse. Bass-heavy music…rattled the glass and ancient timbers of the Bull Inn. And the waiting throng, though packed solid, somehow moved in time to the music in a weld of hips, elbows and anxious-happy faces”
Martin manages to combine a meditation on race and class with an adventure story, a thriller with a bit of romance. It shouldn’t be good, but it is and is in the tradition of novels like Tom Jones.
Evaristo says about this series:
“Our ambition is to correct historic bias in British publishing and bring a wealth of lost writing back into circulation. While many of us continue to lobby for the publishing industry to become more inclusive and representative of our society, this project looks back to the past in order to resurrect texts that will help reconfigure black British literary history… My aim is to present a body of work that illustrates a variety of preoccupations and genres that offer important and diverse black British perspectives. I am very excited to introduce these books to new readers who will discover their riches.”
This novel is part of that and deserves to be better known.

[BookOfCinz · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Bernardine Evaristo’s introduction to Incomparable World she said, “To my knowledge, Incomparable World, remains the only novel about this specific aspect of Black British History. Indeed, so few novels have been written about the Black presence in these shores before the twentieth century that the field is almost completely wide open for writers to colour in the empty space

Incomparable World was the second book I read in the series that Bernardine Evaristo curated for Black Britain: Writing Back I decided to go with this because of the premise. We meet three former enslaved persons, Buckram, Georgie and William who fought in the Revolutionary War against America. They were promised rewards once they returned to London but that did not happen. These three men returned to London in the 1780s with nothing and must now beg and scrape to make a living.

We are thrust into London life in the 1780s, it is chaotic, ugly, smelly, hard and constantly changing. As a Black Man starting from scratch, life is hard. Buckram is back from spending time in jail, he meets up with his ex-soldiers who seem to be making an ok life for themselves. Buckram struggles to get back on his feet. When William hatches a plan that will take them out of their misery, they all fall for it… will this plan work? How will it change their lives?

This is a tiny novel that packs in A LOT. It also references a place I cannot remember reading, especially from a Black perspective. I also cannot remember reading the experiences, albeit fiction, of Black man that fought in the war for Britain and what their lives turned out to be. I enjoyed getting the heads of the character and historical look at Britain at that time.

I do believe the book could have benefitted from a stronger edit, somethings were a bit over the place and at times I couldn’t place exactly where we were. I also think the plot was fast and then slow in some areas and then wrapped so quickly. I wanted a lot more from the character perspective, each seem to be so unique and I felt we didn’t dive into William’s character enough.

Overall, it is a solid read, just a few missing things which would have made it amazing.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 3.5 from me for this one.

I wanted to love this book, the foreword, from Bernardine Evaristo suggested so much, and the premise sounded brilliant. A story of 18th Century London, ex-slaves, historical figures, and a heist- what's not to love? Sadly, the reality fell quite flat for me.

The writing is jerky and inconsistent slipping between present and past tense seemingly at random, and with the feel of a first, un-edited draft. The dialogue is not good for much of the time either managing to feel forced, artificial and yet weirdly modern all at the same time. Annoyingly even the heist let me down, being both slightly nonsensical and seriously underwhelming.

I did like how some of the characters were drawn, and think that a lot more could have been done with them; they all seemed to have so much more to give. I also did enjoy getting a fresh perspective on 18th century London- I just wish the overall effect had been stronger.

[Katherine Stansfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this novel set in London in the 1780s. It follows the fortunes of a small group of Black American soldiers, formerly enslaved, who fought for the British in the American Revolution. Their 'reward' for this is to be re-settled in Britain where they struggle to survive and face continual threats of deportation. As the introduction by series editor Bernardine Evaristo makes clear, the experiences of this community at this point in time, in this part of the world, are largely absent from fiction (and not hugely well explored in non-fiction historical works either). The novel brings the world of the characters to life in an incredibly vivid and visceral way. London seen through the eyes of William, Buckram and Neville is violent, loud, grubby and grasping, teeming with life. The prose is glorious. It's a book that seems to defy its short length. Just over 200 pages and yet it was so rich, I felt it must, somehow, have been longer than the page numbers suggested.

[Onye · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up because i have recently stumbled upon this pocket of historical fiction (Black British history) and i fear i am obsessed.

but seriously (and i mean seriously) i found myself periodically lost and discombobulated. this book either needed to be twice it’s length or edited HEAVILY.

… still loved the chaos tho.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly excellent, an engaging story with wonderfully realised and very human characters, set in a part of my nation's history that I know shamefully little about. Eye opening and a hugely enjoyable read.

[KW · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brutal, fascinating part of London's history.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

had to read this for writing black britain and i really enjoyed it! the narrative follows 3 slaves from america who were promised freedom in london if they fought for the British in the revolutionary war and what it means to be black + british and what it means to be "free" in london. martin underscores the almost-nomadic lives of the black british, their constant running away and towards a larger sense of freedom. it's one of the only known novels about this era of black history and i think martin did a great job detailing london in this period (i can smell london). the story flows through 2 perspectives flawlessly and very smoothly and made it a very easy read! excited for more books from this course...

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incomparable World is a vibrant portrait of Black life in London in the late 1700s. I wasn't expecting a book in which I had to look up every other word to make me laugh so much, but it did. All of the characters were interesting and endearing in their own ways and I feel like I learned a lot about the time period. The pacing was a bit off. This feels like a book you'd read in English class, in a good way.

[Mab · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I could be kinder here: there's obviously a lot of work and love that has gone into this novel, and it's such a fascinating setting - historical black London. Unfortunately it's really clumsy and handles all of its characters, especially its female characters, in an odd and frustrating way. A real shame.

[charlotte, · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rep: Black cast

CWs: racial slurs, period typical racism, implied rape

[Bel]

the heist plot was fun, and I think the historical details and old-timey speech were probably impressive, but I really don't like historical fiction very much.

[Amanda Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loads of interest in this but the structure didn't work fully and I felt it tailed away at the end.
Certainly it is important to know the black history of London .

[Steph | bookedinsaigon]

DNFed at page 37. I really wanted to like this, or at least to be able to recommend it.

In terms of cultural importance, this one's hard to beat, telling the story of three different Black American men, formerly enslaved persons, who fought for the British on the side of the American Revolutionary War in return for their freedom in the UK.

In terms of storytelling, though, this had weaknesses that distracted me and detracted from my full engagement in the story.

In her introduction, Bernardine Evaristo (editor/publisher of the Black Britain Writing Back imprint) explains that her selection of books for her imprint is not necessarily based on literary merit or what she considers worthy of canonization, but simply what she enjoyed reading. She mentions that INCOMPARABLE WORLD is essentially a thriller, and it certainly is: the first two chapters are full of chases down dirty alleys running away from angry white mobs, past secrets coming to light, etc. But it seems like Martin skipped world-building and character development and went straight to the thriller-esque action, leaving me with whiplash and wondering what was going on and why I should care.

[Deedos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. I was excited to read about ex slaves in London at this time and what the city was like for them. I wasn't disappointed but what I found is that it didn't keep me picking it up to read. It's a short novel but took me much longer to read than expected. I give four stars to books that have me turning pages and thinking about them when I'm not reading them and this didn't do that for me.

There is nothing wrong with the story, but personally I feel it might have been better if it were longer and we could get into the characters a little more. I feel like I found it hard to empathise and connect with them. It felt a bit like looking at a picture, a beautiful one, but a picture nonetheless.

As a Londoner, I loved imagining the city back then and placing the descriptions of places I know and comparing them to what they are now. I'm also very appreciative of the fact this book tells a story of a period in history hardly discussed. It's certainly worth a read.

[Blurbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is about part of British history I did not know much about, so it was interesting to read it from a historical perspective. Unfortunately, I don’t know what genre this is (and neither does the author). We are invited to follow 3 African American soldiers living in London who blend in among themselves and do not have a distinct voice, so it makes it rather difficult to follow along. This is a relatively short novel which begins with us being “parachuted” into the middle of things without much of a backstory, and neither a lot of the development (plot or character). We are expected that they have pulled off this Mission Impossible heist without much preparation. I cannot say I have enjoyed or learnt much by reading this.

The narrator also made an odd choice to perform the sounds of character after he read them, not before (e.g. “He sucked his teeth *sucks teeth*” or “baby babbled *gegege*”) which makes it feel as if you are listening to a cheap radio performance.

[KFK · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting story that is mostly not talked about: the black ex-slaves free Men from the colonies that came to live in London. A dream that sounded more like a nightmare, with no food, no jobs, no respect.

What struck me was when Charlotte's parents are with her and Buckram thinks he's never seen a black adult with their parents. Mainly because their parents were slaves too, so either they died early, or the kids were sold to other farms.

The memories coming in dreams telling us the way things were done, George Georgie who had did the talking and bewitching and ended up putting others, not him in trouble.

That he thought Brazil was a good place to go as a black free Man baffled me. It was indeed a place in which slaves existed for far too long and suffered far too much.

Eye opening, great descriptions. Read it so you rethink, over and over, what privilege you have.

[Glynis Selby]

This historic novel is set in London n the 18th century a period of history I know little about. I had no idea that thousands of formally enslaved Africans who fought for the British in the American Revolution were offered freedom in Britain. This book follows the lives of 4 black former slaves. Buckram, Geogie George, Neville and William they settling in London hoping for a better life.
Their lifes are extremely harsh and they resort to crime in order to survive. The descriptive writing by the author gives you are real insight. to the harsh reality of how hard, grim, dirty, and smelly London was around that time. I will continue reading because I am intrigued to find out if any of them achieve a better life.
#The Reading Agency

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

S. I. Martin writes about an aspect of British history that is new to me. His subject is the lives of black slaves, offered freedom in Britain,in return for fighting on the side of Britain in the American Revolution. What was their experience in their new country? He presents an extraordinarily detailed picture of poverty and survival in a city we hardly recognise. His language is rich and descriptive and gives us an explicit, sordid view of life, evoking all our senses. Life is hard, dirty and dangerous. Martin’s skill in writing promotes, not exactly a sympathy, but a certain admiration for his characters, laced with black humour. Can they survive and even prosper against all the odds?

[Jane Fudger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is set in the mid eighteenth century London just after the American Revolution. It was an unlikely refuge for many Black Americans who fought on the side of the British
The novel is set around three mwn Georgie, Buckram and William who have earned their freedom and escaped slavery for the London streets and poverty which forces them into a life of crime with the hope of a better future
The narrative is both sad and witty as we follow the antics of the three protagonists in managing their survival - enduring acts of violence and chaos. aN INTERESTING AND ENJOYABLE READ

[Matthew Trearty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes going in to this book. Curated by Bernadine Evaristo who is amazing but I found this to be a confusing and poorly organised novel.

The topic was interesting and something that I had never read about before. But that is where the good things stop.

It felt very disjointed, I never got enough feel for any of the characters and the plot was a bit all over the place. 

I have loved books that jump back and forward in time and was surprised that I could not get into the swing of this one.

At the end of the day I finished the book. It was ok. Disappointed. 

[Lottie Reason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel. The three African American protagonists, having fought for their freedom and the British in the American Revolution, believed Britain would offer them a better life. How wrong they were, brutality, poverty, crime, gaol and the reality of what it’s like to be black in 18th Britain.
However, the tale is fast paced with great historical detail, the characters shady but engaging even
with the brutal backdrop.

[Amanda Mendzil]

Started reading and enjoying the descriptions of London. Intrigued to find out more about the characters and the complexity and interdependency between Buckram, Georgie and William.
Given freedom after fighting for the British in the American Revolution, they now find themselves enslaved by poverty.
What will the future hold. I think this will be a rollercoaster of emotions in this book and I can’t wait to read more.
@TheReadingAgency
#TheReadingAgency

[Sylvia Rolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books had me stopping a d starting multiple times. It is a snapshot into the brutal history of Britain. Evocative, thought provoking, and immensely descriptive. The author pulls you into the past effortlessly. I felt saddened by the every day reality of the characters. I loved the journey through London. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Black History. Thank you to @TheReadingAgency.

[Rebecca]

A facinating and enlightening read. The story was a mix of trauma, hope, triumph all mixed with harsh reality. I felt despair one minute, shocked the next but overall compelled to read on. I even found myself searching for references on the period to better understand the times and the slang between chapters.
Recommended.

[Rebecca Queay]

A facinating an enlightening read. The story was a mix of trauma, hope, triumph all mixed with harsh reality. I felt despair one minute, shocked the next but overall compelled to read on. I even found myself researching for reference on the period to better understand the times and the slang between chapters. Recommended.

[Nicholas Garforth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyable; marvellously and vividly written, but it just felt too short, with characters flitting through before I had grasped them, and little sense of risk attached to the heist. For me it also needed an introductory section set during the war in America. And Charlotte deserved more of a presence. As such, for me overall the novel feels slight and a missed opportunity, unfortunately.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5
I really wish I liked this more, because it's a period I'm interested in and a subject that doesn't usually get talked about in the mainstream, but while I liked aspects of the ending, as a whole it felt too disjointed, and not in a compelling way. It was alright, I just would've liked to have gotten more attached to the characters and world.