This is another of the six books of the “Black Britain : Writing Back series” curated by Bernardine Evaristo and published by Penguins. It relates to a part of British history that I ignored. During the American Revolution, black American slaves fought for England in exchange for their freedom and at the end of the war, around 1780, emigrated to London. This story is about three of these men that realise that being free, but black and penniless in a strange country, is not freedom. They will have to fight for their survival. This is a disturbing piece of facts about slavery and lies and a cruel and sad story but a fascinating read.
“Buckram hated hymns too. White people hymns were so joyless, as if they were all waiting for their turn on the cross with no coup de grâce and an extra sponge of vinegar; black people’s hymns were just too inane, about walking streets of gold and being so happy when they were all dead.”