Sharon Maas

I read this 1930s to 1950s historical fiction set in Georgetown, Guyana, as part of my read around the world challenge. The author was born and raised in Guyana.

I learned a little about the country along the way. Guyana is on the northern mainland of South America, and was colonised by the Dutch before becoming a British sugar-producing colony in the late 18th century, called British Guiana. It gained independence in 1966. Guyana is the only South American nation in which English is the official language. However, the majority of the population speak Guyanese Creole, an English-based creole, as a first language. It is considered part of the mainland Caribbean region. The population is made up of around 40% Indian, 30% African, 20%, Multiracial and 10% Indigenous peoples with Europeans making up less than 0.5% of the population.

This is the third story in the Quint Chronicles however the first one I have read, which didn’t seem to be a problem. It is the story of Mary Grace Smedley Cox, the mixed race daughter of wealthy white plantation owners. Grace struggles to be accepted by society and wrestles with the mystery of her birth and a difficult relationship with her forceful mother. She feels a much stronger bond to her wise and affectionate aunt Winnie and her sons.

When Jock Campbell emigrates to British Guiana (affectionately known as BG by the locals) with ambitious plans to dramatically improve the lot of the oppressed plantation workers, Grace finally feels she has met a soulmate. The story is an insight into the struggles of a woman of colour in colonial British Guiana and also into the politics of change. Jock Campbell is a historical figure, a dedicated reformer and he was also later instrumental in establishing the Man Booker prize. Passionate revolutionary Cheddi Jaggan is also featured. I enjoyed this book although I felt it sagged somewhat towards the end, with a not overly inspiring ending. There were some lengthy political monologues along the way but I would be happy to read another book by Sharon Maas.… (mehr)

#ReadAroundTheWorld. #Guyana
The Secret Life of Winnie Cox is the first book in the Quint Family trilogy by Guyanese author Sharon Maas. It is set in 1910 in British Guiana (now Guyana).

Winnie Cox and her sister Yoyo are Sugar Princesses, growing up to a life of privilege on their father’s sugar plantation, Promised Land. The plantation runs off the labour of Black house servants and Indian indentured labourers, living in horrific conditions. One day the girls see the awful conditions the workers are living under and their innocence is torn away. Winnie finds herself on a journey as she questions everything she held dear about her father and as she begins falling for Black postman George Quint. The story also shifts back to her mother’s diaries set in the 1880s, and gradually exposes some family secrets and dark truths.

This is a pleasant enjoyable story which gives some insight into life on the plantations, the conditions, colonialism and racial tensions. I did find Winnie’s naivety and stubborn ignorance somewhat annoying and wanted to shake her at times. I think this is the author’s choice to portray her like this however, and she does grow and develop throughout the story. I also struggled to believe Winnie could have lived sixteen years on a plantation with no idea of what went on, but there you go. I found myself wanting to hear more of her mother’s story. 3.5 stars… (mehr)

#ReadAroundTheWorld. #Guyana

The second story in the Quint Chronicles series, by Guyanese born author Sharon Maas, this book is set in 1912 in what was then British Guiana.

It continues the story of sugar princesses Winnie and Yoyo Cox. Their father has gone to jail, Winnie is about to marry the love of her life, black postman George Quint, and Yoyo is ambitiously taking over the running of the sugar plantation. Winnie is bravely trying to adjust to life as the only white woman in Albouystown, and her disappointment at not being embraced and accepted. Yoyo’s ambitions also run to producing sons and heirs, but when this fails to happen, she becomes jealous of Winnie and her growing brood, and maliciously attempts to ensnare George. OK so I have to go there: the sex. While I’m glad to see that a woman can be portrayed as the aggressor, and not always the victim, why is it when men err, it’s always blamed on the alcohol (which they willingly consumed) and of course they couldn’t help that their penis just ran away with them?

This story is about love and betrayal, jealousy and bigotry, and how Winnie and George try to face all of this. I love the setting of these books, the historical background, and the insight into the racial tensions of the time. George educates Winnie about the difference between the British treatment of the Blacks and Indians, based purely on a belief in racial superiority, and their reciprocal suspicion towards the English, based more on previous harsh experiences. The thing I found hard about this book was the irritating naivety of Winnie and her gushingly cheerful brand of goodness, in stark contrast to the almost maniacal evil of Yoyo’s selfishness. When I was young I enjoyed these kinds of stories when the differentiation between heroes and the villains was sharply demarcated. Now that I’m older I prefer a little subtly, the more flawed brand of perfection and the more complex and layered villain that is reality.… (mehr)