The Longest Memory

by Fred D'Aguiar

From William Styron's The Confessions of Nat Turner to Toni Morrison's Beloved, modern American fiction engaged with slavery has provoked fiery controversy. So will The Longest Memory, the powerful, beautifully crafted, internationally acclaimed fictional debut of prizewinning Guyanese poet Fred D'Aguiar. In language extraordinary for its tautness and resonance, The Longest Memory tells the story of a rebellious, fiercely intelligent young slave, who in 1810 attempts to flee a Virginia plantation - and of his father who inadvertently betrays him. The young slave's love for a white girl who slakes his forbidden thirst for learning and his painful relationship with his father are hauntingly evoked in this novel of astonishing lyrical simplicity. It is a measure of D'Aguiar's achievement and bravery that The Longest Memory is informed not only by the complicities between black slave and white master but also by the tensions among slaves themselves - between stoic survivalists and passionate rebels. Remarkable for its keenness of observation, subtlety, and restraint, The Longest Memory heralds the arrival of a major new voice in the contemporary literature of the African diaspora.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, School, Read For School, Classics, Historical, Contemporary

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1994

About the author

Poet, novelist and playwright Fred D'Aguiar was born in London in 1960 to Guyanese parents. He lived in Guyana until he was 12, returning to England in 1972.

He trained as a psychiatric nurse before reading African and Caribbean Studies at the University of Kent, Canterbury, graduating in 1985. His first collection of poetry, Mama Dot (1985), was published to much acclaim and established his reputation as one of the finest British poets of his generation. Along with Airy Hall (1989), it won the Guyana Poetry Prize in 1989 and was followed by British Subjects (1993). His first novel, The Longest Memory (1994), tells the story of Whitechapel, a slave on an eighteenth-century Virginia plantation and won both the David Higham Prize for Fiction and the Whitbread First Novel Award. It was adapted for television and televised by Channel 4 in the UK. His long poem 'Sweet Thames' was broadcast as part of the BBC 'Worlds on Film' series in 1992, winning the Commission for Racial Equality Race in the Media Award.

Fred D'Aguiar was Judith E. Wilson Fellow at Cambridge University (1989-90), Visiting Writer at Amherst College, Amherst, MA (1992-4), and was Assistant Professor of English at Bates College, Lewiston, ME (1994-5). More recently he was Professor of English and Creative Writing at the University of Miami.

His plays include High Life, which was first produced at the Albany Empire in London in 1987, and A Jamaican Airman Foresees His Death, performed at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in 1991.

He is also the author of the novels Dear Future (1996), set on a fictional Caribbean island, and Feeding the Ghosts (1997), inspired by a visit D'Aguiar made to the Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool and based on the true story of a slave who survived being thrown overboard with 132 other men, women and children from a slave ship in the Atlantic.

Recent poetry includes Bill of Rights (1998), a long narrative poem about the Jonestown massacre in Guyana in 1979, and a new long narrative poem, Bloodlines, the story of a black slave and her white lover, published in 2000.

Fred D'Aguiar's fourth novel, Bethany Bettany (2003), is centred on a five-year-old Guyanese girl, Bethany, whose suffering symbolises that of a nation seeking to make itself whole again.

Reviews

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

The following is my review, written in 2006, of this amazing book, which I read on the recommendation of another member, and a good friend of mine, Mandy. If it inspires anyone to add this book to their "To Read" list then both she and I will be much pleased:

This week I had the privilege of reading this very short, very beautifully crafted book by Fred D’Aguiar, a writer whose name I had never come across before, which is of course a reflection on my own literary ignorance as this book was a winner of the Whitbread First Novel Award. When I say very short, the book is only about 130 pages long, a length that easily fits into an afternoon, but the story it tells is immense and the feel of the book will stay with you, or, as Paula Burnett of the “New Statesman” puts it:

“This deceptively simple book resonates long after it is finished.”

D’Aguiar’s main interest, and the theme of most of his writings, is the slave trade and the history of slavery in the US, and so this lovely, lyrical book relates the events immediately prior to and after the death of a young slave who received 200 lashes as punishment for running away from the Virginia plantation where he had been born.

The story is told through the voices of the young slave’s grieving and guilt-ridden father, whose punishment is perhaps greater than that of his son; his mother, who learns that kindness is the greatest form of love; his lover, someone who believes that people really can change the world; the plantation owner, a man who has a vision of the future and who battles within himself over the issue of owning other human beings; the overseer who ordered the 200 lashes, a man perhaps haunted more by the future than the past; and, in a chapter written so musically and beautifully in verse, the young man himself.

Perhaps because the author himself is black - sorry, as an Aussie I never know what label is applicable or acceptable these days - he is able to write on such a subject with a tenderness which is absolutely tangible. At one point the overseer is addressing Whitechapel, the father of the dead young slave, and, comparing him to his own father, says:

“I am his son. I think like him. You yourself said I resembled him, that I was my father’s young self. But my memory of him is sullied. He lacked your courage, Whitechapel. If you were white I would have wanted you as my father.”

At the end of the book, Whitechapel, who believed that a slave who behaved, who served his master faithfully, who showed respect, could in turn expect to be treated fairly and also shown respect, but whose beliefs were shattered with the death of his son, says:

“My head is too heavy for these shoulders. Eyes that have seen too much for one body, rest. Mouth that has kept too much to itself, utter. Night and day this mouth refuses to speak; cannot begin to speak; has too much to say. The mouth turns down. All the things it has never managed to say have soured there.”

I've heard one writer say that his favourite books are those he keeps on the top shelf of his bookcase. This beautiful work must indeed take its place on the top shelf of all those privileged enough to read it.

[Tia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an impactful small book, a definite keeper in my library. I recommend this book to everyone.

[mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

thanks vcaa for recommending me this book 🥰🥰

i kind of hate rating this so low because objectively it’s a good book. a great book even. i love the symbolism, and the memory / forgetting motif throughout the novel especially how the prologue and epilogue ties together. besides that, the rest of the book is okay. it feels like i’ve read most of the points made about the issues mentioned before. especially HATED chapel’s chapter and his romeo & juliet relationship with lydia. too overly done.

i also don’t see myself ever reading this book ever again. not only because it’s mandatory for school (it’s only a small part to be honest), every time i’ve reread it to try and get a deeper connection to the characters, i can’t. i don’t think i have a single favourite character, favourite part, or favourite quote from this one.

however i’d still recommend this book. personal preferences aside, i think d’aguiar has an easy to read writing style, that’s not to simple and not too overly fancy.

[Jane Milton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whitechapel’s error- to believe himself beloved and respected by his captors- is incredibly poignant. It’s a beautiful book with a mix of narrators and form. I just found it so sad. And I wanted to know more.

[Anja]

It feels wrong giving this book a star rating. Did I enjoy it? Well, I was pressured to read it for a presentation at university, so.. not really, but it's a very important and heartbreaking read and if I hadn't HAVE to read it, I would have enjoyed it a lot more. We follow an enslaved by the name of Whitechapel, as he recounts his life and the tragic events that led to his son's death. This book is twisted and made me really sick at times, which is good, because the racism in this book needs to be seen and it should never be forgotten.
Just please be cautious before reading this, because of the TWs: rape, slavery, torture, racism, death of a child, suicidal ideations.

[mohmina (taylor's version) ✩‧₊˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

thanks vcaa for the recommendation 🥰🥰

[Zoe de Wit · Rating 2 out of 5]

it counts….right?

[jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love whitechapel

[sarah]

review to come!

[ally_owos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I need to get started on the essay I have to write for this asap but I lowkey just wanna stare at the ceiling for 30 minutes to process what the fuck I just read.

[Chris Lindert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most powerful multi-perspective story set in the early 19th century slavery era of southern states America. The oldest slave on Mr Whitechapel’s plantation - Whitechapel - despite his long memory, wants to forget. The loss of his only son, and his unwitting role in it, haunts him. Each of those who play a role in these events contributes their experience adding another layer to the overwhelming cruelty that was perpetuated during this era. A very short read but one that is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression.

[Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is on my son's Year 11 reading list next year. And it's a worthy study.

It's a simple yet gripping tale of life on a plantation in Virginia around 1810 . It's written in a highly accessible way. It does a great job of highlighting the issues associated with slavery and tells a twisted tale.

All the characters are memorable. Chapters are written from varying perspectives of each of the main characters. And there's a special chapter written as editorials from the local paper that reinforces attitudes of the time.

A shameful era, and a very well written story.

5 stars.

[Mark Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Others have given the essence of the story, a subject that I am familiar with. My comment concerns the author's writing style. Precision and command of language are his clarion calls. A style that is worthy of praise and adulation.

[ada ☽ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a moving, intense and harrowing narrative of slavery, broken resignation versus resilience and subversion, entanglement and the moral and physical consequences of slave labor. the various different perspectives all shock for different reasons and leave a strong, bitter aftertaste. it was unfortunate that all chapters with women still revolved around male characters, as if both white and black women only existed in relation to men. nevertheless, this novel tells a strong narrative of resistance as well as forced subordination and the enslavement of even the mind into submission which is perceived as voluntary and reasonable, and foregrounds voices often discarded. an enriching and devastating book.

[K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: slavery, torture, death, death of a spouse, death of a child, racism, racial slurs, systemic racism

3.5 stars.

I only picked this up because my niece is studying it in English and wanted help, and holy HELL this was brutal. She keeps having to do practice essay topics about the presence of hope in the book and, like, WHERE. WHERE IS THE HOPE. Maybe it's more apparent when you study it, but I sure as hell couldn't find it... Don't get me wrong, it's beautifully written and crafted. But oof.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn't have read this if I didn't need to for school but it was definitely better than a lot of other books we've read. I enjoyed the perspective changes & different forms of writing. For some reason my entire English class are idiots and think this book is the most insanely confusing thing ever & also half of them think Cook is a guy??

[Jemimah Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The storyline was interesting and controversial, but if I'm being honest I wasnt a fan of the writing style. Found the writing unexciting, yet it did delve into the underlying themes and ideas.

[Charli Cutajar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this for school. It was deep and emotional. It was well written. I am giving it a 3.8 star rating as it did have me confused at some points and was hard to follow at others. But overall better then I expected and definitely a very deep book that will be interesting to study.

[Atticus · Rating 2 out of 5]

I. I did not enjoy that in the slightest. I can appreciate a good symbol— but- like— no.

[caitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
Read this for school. Started off strong for me and then kind of lost its impact. My favourite chapter was Chapel’s. The poetry was in fact very good.

[Glenys Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is only a small book but one that is hard to read. But it is one that should be read. Slavery is a painful part of human history that shouldn’t be forgotten.

[♡ cel · Rating 3 out of 5]

objectively a really good book that really exposes the horrors of slavery through the perspectives of both the coloniser and the colonised. the different forms and the techniques the author carefully uses for each character was insanely thought provoking and it's such a unique way of writing. especially chapel's chapter, such beautiful and heart-touching poetry. i think some of the purpose of this book is to confront you with the cruelty faced by african-american slaves and i constantly had a pit in my stomach while reading especially due to such vivid descriptions of violence and how horribly bigoted so many characters are but

not rlly a spoiler but kind of a rant lol
i feel a bit bad for rating it so low when the book is really so good, but i think your experience reading also matter when rating and when you're forced to read it to analyse in your english class, in a mandatory subject that will be a part of your final score which practically decides if you get into uni or not... this just feels like a horrifying and uncomfortable read. this should be a book you pick up yourself, because of your own interest in the content but being forced to read this, is just not it.

also discussing this book in a classroom full of privileged, white boys is horrible. literally laughing and taking the events of the book so casually, like not only was i forced to read this, i had to suck up listening to immature little boys giggling about it too.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why I never found this book before but came across it because it is on the list for Year 12 next year. It tells the stories of individuals connected to the brutal murder of a slave called Chapel who attempted an escape from a plantation. The story is told from various perspectives including his father Whitechapel who has a devastating role in his son's death. The use of shifting narrators is interesting because it presents multiple perspective of both the African American and white American viewpoint which works to humanise all of the characters including the most hateful. I loved it but would it work as a VCE text? The language is fairly accessible. It raises interesting moral questions as well. In my experience, students engage well with the topic of Slavery. I think the text attempts to have us empathise with the characters which does not mean that we excuse their actions but this may be a struggle for some students.

[dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What a deeply heart-aching, painful, lyrical little book.

I cannot give this book any less than five stars, because I know I will never forget the experience of reading it. I read this in a single day, and a busy day for me at that. It is not without its issues, but this book made me feel such strong, deep feelings of sadness and melancholy, probably more so than any other book I've ever read. No tears were seen, just a visceral wear on the heart.

This novella also falls into my "I love it but would never recommend it category". As a white person, I wouldn't feel right giving this a hearty recommendation to anyone who could be genuinely traumatised by this book, because despite what it made me feel, there is obviously a level of connection to the story that I will never have.

[Timotei · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving and deeply sad story.
D'Aguiar effectively uses perspective to tell the story from multiple sides all building up to a conclusion that was presented in the first chapter (also a great choice).
Writing changed appropriately for the different characters. It always had a clear, poignant simplicity.
Highly recommended.

[lena☀️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for school and I read it rushed because I didn't get it until we had started studying it so I don't feel like I can accurately rate it but I hate it sitting there without a rating so it's getting 3 stars.

[Genevieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

i'm still hovering around a 3.5 for this. a truly great book, but only once you really look into it and unpack. and realistically, who really does that outside of english class? but very deep and moving and i would still recommend

[Zach King · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fancy words oo look at me

[Joseph Hildula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is super ambitious in both subject and structure. D'Aguiar's trademark poesy creates layers of subtlety and intimation that bear multiple reads. Whitechapel the elder slave (more on that later) is sufficiently tortured by his fealty to the institution of slavery, and his subsequent betrayal of his son. The journal entries from Sanders Sr. comprise my favorite chapter; the complex motivations and moral quandaries the old overseer grapples with feel strangely relatable, albeit through the tarnished lens of rape and racism. Lydia and Chapel's relationship is appropriately bittersweet; though I had issues with the layout of the chronology and POVs, knowing that he is already doomed heightens both the drama and the futility.

4-Star Issues: mostly minor, though noticeable. Having one name recycled for so many concurrent characters -- Mr. Whitechapel the master, Mr. Whitechapel his son, Whitechapel the old slave, Chapel his son -- would be hard enough to pull off with a one-direction, single-perspective narrator; the chaotic back-and-forth between past, present, and future left me disoriented on occasion.

Things that give me pause but are not CANCEL WORTHY:

1) Whitechapel marrying a woman younger than his own great-granddaughter. Just a little weird to grapple with in 2020.

2) The ham-fisted editorials in The Virginian. The glaring hints that "Miss L" was in fact Lydia could have been pared back slightly without losing any but the densest of readers.

3) The piece at the end where Whitechapel muses about how "The master is daylight, the slave is night. A complete day needs both light and dark." In the same passage, he seems to acknowledge that the reign of slavery is and must be finite. So is this master/slave binary an abstract statement about power dynamics, a la Hegel? Or is it Whitechapel's dogged admiration for the institution that robbed him of his life and his family (that would be in character...)?

Overall, a short and thought-provoking read. If I hadn't put it down for a couple months I might have awarded 5 stars.

[Martin Peel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a clever book, both simple and complex simultaneously. On the one hand it is a fictional diary of events on a slave plantation. The diary entries are written by different characters who reflect on the a brutal whipping ( 200 lashes), that kill a runaway slave who has been captured and brought back to the plantation.

Fred D'Aguiar has laid bare the twisted logic of the whole sitation. The false moral logic that was used but slaveholders to salve their own conciences, the logic that gave white men power ( no matter of their temperament and character), over the lives of slaves, and the false logic that slaves themselves had to adopt to survive at all. Hypocrisy, contempt and arrogance are dominant characteristics.

D'Aguiar's novel is short and relatively easy to read that does not lecture or sermonize but allows you the ready to understand what it may have been like. It is a challenging, powerful and damning indictment of terrrible times. D'Aguiar does manage to make his readers think about what is the nature of freedom and how far can a human be free in a system that demands by force, or through pay, that they work for someone or something else ? What is the essence of the human spirit and how far do our spirits need to be liberated to live a fulfilling and loving life ? To this degree the novel is a contemporary and challenging read as we live in an age of where work is seen as for our own good, where we cannot live unless we have money to supply our needs, and where our work is increasingly scrutinised and controlled.

It is well worth giving this short novel a thoughtful and at times poetic book a read.