Brinda Charry

This is the story of an Indian lad, nicknamed "Tony," who gets shanghaied to Jamestown VA during the 1600s to be sold into indentured servitude. His subsequent adventures - working as a laborer on a tobacco plantation, accompanying a frontiersman on his journey through unexplored western lands, being adopted by a Native American tribe, converting to Christianity, apprenticing himself to a German doctor - are narrated in first person.

Charry leans heavily into the whole "immigrant reinventing themselves" theme. A good chunk of the novel is Tony struggling with himself over coping strategies: should he flee back to India? resist the forces arrayed against him? try to assimilate? forge some sort of compromise? In other words, basically the same struggle that all who find themselves washed up on the shores of a new world must endure, though in this case the struggle is complicated by the fact that Tony straddles racial lines, perceived as black by most but also afforded opportunities (ex: his apprenticeship) that might otherwise have been denied. Felt like the author did a pretty good job exploring this aspect of the story. Also appreciated the novelty of the setting and period: you don't see a lot of fiction set in "the new world."

If you want to be nitpicky, there are nits to pick: Charry's research is uneven (one chapter he's providing exhaustive details about Indian mythology or colonial medicine, the next chapter he's skimming his way past important details like a student trying to write a book report based on the movie version), his denouement strains credulity (requiring that his characters engage in a series of decisions/events that are profoundly illogical), and the last section for some reason takes us out of the story for a brief lecture on the evolution of slavery in America, which feels unnecessarily extra and inauthentic. Even so, wouldn't say that these annoyances were bad enough to offset everything here that's good.

In summary, an interesting story, acceptably well-told - nothing particularly remarkable, but likely to keep you engaged right up to the end.… (mehr)

A very engaging and vividly told story. Tony is born in the 1600's India, to his mother , a courtesan , the identity of his father unknown. After his mother's death, twelve year old Tony journeys by boat to London . There, he hopes to be taken on as an apprentice to a physician but is unable to pay the fee. From there, he finds himself kidnapped and sent to Virginia , where he becomes an indentured servant to a brutal and heartless master, Ralph Gantner. Tony is the first East Indian to arrive in North America and he is curiosity to White, Blacks and Native Americans. He is kind, intelligent and spirited, but lives a life of cruelty and poverty. The many characters are interesting , relatable and well drawn. Eventually in a twist of fate, Tony becomes an apprentice to a physician . The story ends on a hopeful note.

Highly recommended, and based on a true story .… (mehr)

This is historical fiction at its best. An unnamed East Indian boy is given the name Tony by a Christian priest and then finds himself an orphan but this mother's lover finds him a place as a servant to a man going to London who dies before reaching England. Although a pre teen, Tony manages to survives on the streets and docks of London by working. Although desperately wanting to return to India, he finds himself on a ship headed for America along with two other young goys: Dick and even younger Sammy. The trip is brutal and they become indentured servants in Jamestown working for a cruel Mr. Ganter.

There are scenes which are horrifying, scenes that are funny, but all are believable and seem to be accurate to the times. Other characters appear such as Mad Marge who was on the ship with them, a doctor who reluctantly takes Tony underwing and teaches him healing skills, and Lydia, a black slave.

Throughout the story, Tony is neither black or white or American Indian and no one can figure how where he came from or what race he is. The story leaves on a somewhat happy ending skipping to the future so one knows the fate of Tony. A really interesting read and a side of history I had not read.… (mehr)

Set in the 17thC, an exciting historical adventure story based on the life of a real person, the first East Indian to set foot on American soil. Tony travels from the Coromandel coast, to the streets of London and then on to Virginia in the New World in the hope of a new life. He makes friends and enemies along the bumpy ride of a way.

This is an imaginative and evocative tale with some fascinating and well drawn characters. I liked Tony and enjoyed following him on his journey. It’s not always a happy story and it’s quite dark at times, but still there is a smattering of hope throughout. It’s beautifully written, well researched and has some vivid and colourful descriptions, quite easy to visualise. I read this via the Pigeonhole app over ten days and was eager to read each stave. An absorbing and powerful read.… (mehr)