Rough Crossings

by Caryl Phillips

First published 2008

The American Revolution tears through the colonies, and a plantation slave sees his chance. He encounters a British Naval Officer whose own quest for liberty mirrors his own. Though separated by race and circumstance, both men share the same burning desire for equality and freedom. Their paths converge in an unlikely alliance that will challenge everything the world believes about slavery. The journey takes them from the plantations of the American Deep South across the ocean to the harsh landscapes of West Africa. Their partnership defies the social order of their time. As they navigate treacherous waters both literal and metaphorical, their convictions grow stronger. The bond between these two men becomes a force that will help reshape attitudes toward human bondage forever. Their story unfolds against the backdrop of a world in upheaval, where old certainties crumble and new possibilities emerge.

Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, historical-romance, 19th-century, african-american-historical-fiction, american-history

Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: bond-of-friendship, unlikely-allies

Setting: American Deep South, West Africa

Period: American Revolution

128 pages · Paperback · Oberon Books

Content warnings: slavery

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