Marassa and Midnight

by Morna Stuart

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1969

Reviews

[Theo Logos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marassa and Midnight by Morna Stuart is the latest book in my project to reread and review significant books from my childhood. This book was read to me and my class by a seventh grade teacher, and it stuck in my memory because it was my introduction to the Haitian Revolution. At no other point in my primary or secondary education did any history book, lesson, or teacher, mention the Haitian Revolution, either as a unique event during the Age of Revolution, or even as an offshoot of the French Revolution. It was because of this book that I first investigated that part of history on my own.

The story is told from the perspective of twin slave boys, Marassa and Midnight, who had been separated before the story begins. Marassa had been sold to a French aristocrat and taken to Paris to serve as his footman. That is where the story opens, with Marassa sad and lonely in Paris, dreaming of his twin left behind in Haiti. Through the chaos of the French Revolution, Marassa is returned to Haiti, which itself is plunging into revolution. The story focuses on the brothers quest to reunite.

Reading it as an adult, I was less impressed with the story than my 12 year old self. On the positive side it carried a fairly strong anti slavery message. But it equivocated when it came to the extreme violence of the Haitian Revolution. The author clearly wanted to draw bright lines about acceptable levels of violence, so divided the rebelling slaves into “evil,” revenge seekers, and the “good” ones, who won’t kill indiscriminately. The only actual conflict shown is between the evil and the good rebels (the killing and depredations happen behind the scenes, and are only shown when Midnight comes across the ruin of his plantation). Mostly the author keeps the focus on the story of the brother’s search for each other.

Still, this story told me about the Haitian Revolution when no history teacher would. The writing doesn’t stand out as anything special to an adult, but is likely perfectly acceptable as a YA novel. After this reread, I’m subtracting a star from my rating, but that still leaves it with a respectable 3 stars I liked it.

[Sarry]

i used this book about 25 years ago for my english literature class and the entire class enjoyed reading this book and now that i am searching for the book for my soon it brought back all the fun memories we had literature class

[Jenna Freedman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this 1966 novel by "Morna Stuart, the last generation of a family born in India" when I was a kid in the 1970s. It seemed progressive at the time, a narrative from the point of view of 18th century enslaved twin boys--one in Haiti, and one who was sold into a French household, as they long to be reunited. Meanwhile, there are revolutions happening.

The slave holders are thoughtless, greedy, and violent, but hating them is wrong, advises "Papa Doctor," an enslaved healer who chooses for himself and his family to remain in bondage to his white owner for reasons only he understands. That's wild, right?!? So much going on I didn't know about when I was a tween!

[Myco . · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hoped this would have been better. The title is great and so is the premise. But the book is confusing even when nothing is happening. The character of Tir nan Og didn't really have a place in story after his first introduction and his addition really didn't add anything to the story. The author should have focused more on the twins, created more adventures to have a stronger story.