The Devil Is White
It is 1792 when well-born young poet Caspar Jeavons finds himself swept up in the preparations for the new colonial utopia of Muranda, an island off the western coast of Africa. Sir George Whitcroft may well be the appointed governor, but the heart and soul of the venture is the idealistic and spirited Captain Coupland, whose vision of a free new world without slavery binds together naive Reverend Tolchard, drunkard physician Dr. Owen, free mulatto servant Jackson, and thoughtful carpenter Hood. But as subscribers and settlers are recruited, it becomes increasingly clear that the colonists are very much underrating their enterprise…
When off they sail, with the noblest intentions and an ill-assorted company, the voyage first, and then Muranda, prove very different from Coupland’s dream. This is a wonderful, cruel tale of thwarted purpose and human nature, told in crisp language and beautifully set in an unforgiving corner of Africa. An intelligent, insightful, well written book. Highly recommended.
