BOOK REVIEWS Courtesy of Beaverdale Books
‘The Pirate’s Daughter’
By Margaret Cezair-Thompson
Random House
Pub Date: 8/1/2008
$15
407 pp
“The Pirate’s Daughter” transports you to beautiful culture-filled Jamaica. It is a fictional tale that builds upon the facts of Jamaica’s history — Errol Flynn’s arrival in 1946 and the subsequent filming of his movie “Captain Blood,” independence from England in 1962, the riots in Kingston, and the influx of Cuban refugees after Fidel Castro’s army took over Cuba.
The author, Margaret Cezair-Thompson, was born in Jamaica and her writing captures the flavor of the island through her authentic descriptions of the land and the people — you’ll have to trust me on this one; I read this book while I was there. Her descriptions of the houses, the Poinciana trees, the strong coffee, the jerk and the dialect she uses all portray the true Jamaica.
The book is filled with fantastic and exciting events that span several classes in Jamaica. Errol’s wild parties include characters like Truman Capote and strange events like driving a car into a swimming pool. This playing of the rich and famous is balanced with the dirt-poor and dangerous life of Errol’s daughter, May, who lives with many other children in a tenement yard. Add to that her great-grandmother, Oni, who lives in the bush and practices “obeah,” a form of magic or witchcraft, and you have a diverse sampling of Jamaican society. This variety creates an enchanting story that will keep you absorbed all the way through. CV — Review by Laura Flaugher
