Sugar Island by Sanjida O’Connell (John Murray £17.99) (From Gazette & Herald)

Sugar Island by Sanjida O’Connell (John Murray £17.99)

4:13pm Wednesday 16th March 2011 in Books By Bill Spence

Emily Harris is a young English woman visiting America as an actress in 1859. She meets Charles Earl Brook and falls in love with him and is delighted when he proposes.

After a honeymoon in Italy they return to his home in Georgia, but Emily is horrified to find that it is a large plantation worked by slaves. Poverty is rife and Emily wants to improve the quality of life for the slaves, but Charles will not hear of it and resents her interference.

Their differences cause a rift in their marriage and their small daughter becomes a pawn. But when civil war breaks out all of their lives are in danger and Emily is forced to choose between her family and what she truly believes in.

This thought-provoking book is based on a true story and knowing this made me enjoy it all the more. It is well-written and moving, though at times it is uncomfortable reading.

This is partly due to the descriptions that make us feel as if we are actually witnessing the events and experiencing the places.

The author, brought up in Nigeria and West Yorkshire, is to be congratulated on her excellent research and her ability to translate it into such a gripping and informative novel.