This novel imagines aspects of a true story. Sarah Forbes Bonetta was born into a West African tribe around 1843, orphaned, and captured with the intention of selling her into slavery or using her for human sacrifice. In 1850, she was given to Frederick Forbes, a representative of Queen Victoria who was working to stop the African slave trade. He accepted Sarah on behalf of the Queen. Upon their return to England, Queen Victoria agreed to pay for Sarah’s upbringing and education. Sarah was a regular visitor to the royal family who became a close friend of Princess Alice.
That’s all true.
Maafa is a Swahili word for “great tragedy”, and it is often used to describe the African slave trade. This story illustrates the Maafa by giving Sarah a sister who is sold into slavery in the US. (Although the US outlawed the importation of slaves in 1807, it continued to take place, although at a much slower pace than before.) This creates a contrast between the pampered life that Sarah enjoys and the cruelty of chattal slavery.
I really enjoyed this book. It was really well written. And sure, there are a few unlikely coincidences built into the plot, but overall, it explored an interesting historical event against a backdrop of tragedy.
