Product Description

THE POLISHED HOE is an epic symphony of Caribbean life. Layers of disturbing history slowly unfold through one woman's intimate, murderous confession. Mary-Mathilda - the fair-skinned mistress of a cruel plantation manager - tells her story in an exquisite, dancing vernacular and it is the story of a life, a culture, a time gone by. But its meditation on love, loss and sacrifice, and its explorations of lives distorted by the horrors of racism are utterly contemporary.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #560222 in Books
• Published on: 2004-03-08
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Review
'There is a mesmerising stillness to Austin Clarke's latest novel ... Out of a single act of retribution [he] has spun an entire history, one in which freedom, love and even languor all have their place' New York Times 'The beauty of THE POLISHED HOE lies in the poetry of its telling and the marvellous voice of Mary-Mathilda. The value of the novel lies in its patient exploration of the sacrifices that are made for the sake of survival' The Washington Post 'A richly crafted novel which eludes, defies categories; it is variously wistful and agonising, ironic and sensual; a tragic tale, relentlessly wrought' Commonwealth Prize Jury Citation A magnificent, breathtaking plunge into the secret depths of human relations ... a wonder-filled gem' Ottawa Citizen 'Austin Clarke has transcended the earlier achievements of his already illustrious career with The Polished Hoe by composing a Faulknerian evocation of the Caribbean voice, recounting a somnolent, nocturnal dialogue between a black murderess and a black constable, both of whom confront the racist horror of their own past as they divulge the secrets of both their love and their loss.' Christian Bok, Jan Geddes and Lesley Kruger, jurors for the Trillium Book Award

Ottawa Citizen
'A magnificent, breathtaking plunge into the secret depths of human relations . . . a wonder-filled gem’

From the Publisher
‘The beauty of THE POLISHED HOE lies in the poetry of its telling and the marvellous voice of Mary-Mathilda. The value of the novel lies in its patient exploration of the sacrifices that are made for the sake of survival’
The Washington Post

‘There is a mesmerising stillness to Austin Clarke’s latest novel . . . Out of a single act of retribution [he] has spun an entire history, one in which freedom, love and even languor all have their place’
New York Times