Read Women discussion

Our Women in Translation selection is The Cost of Sugar, the 1987 debut novel that made author and historian, Cynthia McLeod, one of the most prominent authors in Suriname. It focuses its story on 2 daughters of Jewish sugar plantation owners and the enslaved persons who worked the plantation in a Dutch colony between 1765-1779, and ultimately the revolt against slavery that occurs. Translated from the Dutch by Gerald R. Mettam.

btw, the official spelling of the country's English name was changed from "Surinam" to "Suriname" in January 1978.

Cynthia McLeod

Cynthia Mcleod was born in 1936 in Paramaribo, Suriname, the daughter of Dr. Johan Ferrier, the last governor and first president of Suriname. Here's a link to an interview with her, translated into English: file:///C:/Users/CB164289/Downloads/5...

Gail will lead our discussion. Let us know if you plan to read and join the discussion.

I have already finished The Cost of Sugar by Cynthia McLeod for my reading the world group. I just want to set this minimal review down because I'm already forgetting the details of the story! (view spoiler)[The storyline is set in the country of Suriname in the mid 1700's, and was written as "a frank expose of life in the Dutch slave colony when sugar ruled as king - and the tragic toll it took on the lives of colonists and slaves alike." (De Telegraaf) The history portion of the book was very well done. The storyline with the husband and the step-sister frankly blew my mind. (hide spoiler)]

Does anyone have any initial thoughts?