THE BONDWOMAN'S NARRATIVE

The most interesting part of this audiobook is the material that runs before and after the reading of the novel itself. Hearing about the discovery and authentication of this 1850s manuscript makes the book a more valuable experience, for the idea that one is possibly listening to the first novel ever written by an African-American woman is powerful. The novel traces the trials of Hannah, a young slave woman who embarks on a quest for freedom but finds the road is long and filled with every imaginable obstacle. The book has a distinctively gothic style typical of its time, but it also can be overwrought and sentimental. In addition, the rendering of that style is at times choppy--Anna Deavere Smith sometimes stumbles over the awkward phrasing. Nonetheless, THE BONDWOMAN'S NARRATIVE is worth a listen for its historical significance. L.B.F. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 02]