Sugar Money

Sugar Money is a historical novel based on true events that took place in the Caribbean in 1765. Two enslaved brothers, Emile and Lucien, are sent on a perilous mission from Martinique to Grenada by their French masters. Their task is to travel to Grenada and return with 42 enslaved people who were left behind when the French were defeated by British forces. The story is narrated by young Lucien, who experiences the journey alongside his older and more cautious brother Emile. The mission requires the brothers to navigate complex political tensions between the French and British colonial powers while attempting to execute their dangerous assignment. Their personal stakes are heightened by Emile's hope of reuniting with his lost love Celeste. The novel explores themes of freedom, loyalty, and the moral complexities of colonial society, while documenting the brutal realities of eighteenth-century slavery in the Caribbean.

Readers emphasize the book's vivid historical detail and compelling voice of young narrator Lucien. Many note the emotional impact of experiencing a slave narrative through a child's perspective. Readers appreciate: - The rich Creole dialogue and language - Historical authenticity and research - Pacing and building tension - Complex moral choices faced by characters - Educational value about lesser-known colonial history Common criticisms: - Some find the Creole dialect challenging to follow - A few note the story moves slowly in the middle sections - Multiple readers wanted more exploration of supporting characters Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (150+ ratings) "The voice of Lucien will stay with me for a long time" - Goodreads reviewer "Sometimes hard to read emotionally but impossible to put down" - Amazon reviewer "The dialect took work but added authenticity" - LibraryThing reviewer

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🔸 The novel is based on a true historical incident from 1765, when two enslaved brothers were indeed sent on a dangerous mission to retrieve slaves from Grenada for French monks. 🔸 The Caribbean sugar trade, central to the book's context, was so profitable that by 1750 sugar cane plantations accounted for 80% of Europe's total sugar consumption. 🔸 Author Jane Harris spent over three years researching historical documents, including ships' logs and colonial records, to accurately portray 18th-century Caribbean life. 🔸 The book's narrator, Lucien, speaks in a carefully reconstructed 18th-century Creole-influenced French dialect, which Harris developed through extensive linguistic research. 🔸 Before writing novels, Jane Harris worked as a screenwriter for the BBC and wrote several award-winning short films, including the acclaimed "Going Down" (2000).