It's considered one of his better works and would have found more readership now than it has simply because of the unfortunate and inappropriate title. It's slim at 126 pages and that makes it very attractive. However, the content is heavy, in a style that's very different.
On board the ship Narcissus is a West Indian man Jim Wait who is unwell. The ship is heading from Bombay to London and counters some massive storms. The man confesses to his friend that he was not as sick as he made it out to be and merely did that to escape work. The others suspect the same. After surviving the storm, the ship lands in the doldrums, with no breeze to help it along. Some on the ship feel that their misfortune is because of the black man's presence. By now he really falls sick and dies. No sooner than he dies than a strong wind blows and the boat sets sail.
It's an interesting theme of the judgments the crew have about the black man, how some support him and some others do not, some going to the extent of blaming him for their misfortune. I am sure history will always find a scapegoat for its misfortunes and sometimes it seems that nature enjoys making the connections.
On board the ship Narcissus is a West Indian man Jim Wait who is unwell. The ship is heading from Bombay to London and counters some massive storms. The man confesses to his friend that he was not as sick as he made it out to be and merely did that to escape work. The others suspect the same. After surviving the storm, the ship lands in the doldrums, with no breeze to help it along. Some on the ship feel that their misfortune is because of the black man's presence. By now he really falls sick and dies. No sooner than he dies than a strong wind blows and the boat sets sail.
It's an interesting theme of the judgments the crew have about the black man, how some support him and some others do not, some going to the extent of blaming him for their misfortune. I am sure history will always find a scapegoat for its misfortunes and sometimes it seems that nature enjoys making the connections.
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