Hills third novel, it is a work of historical fiction inspired by the document called the book of negroes, a list of black loyalists who fled new york for canada during the american revolutionary war. Someone knows my name is my attempt to give this fascinating but littleknown story a human face. Aminata is shown in the novel someone knows my name by lawrence hill as a strong young protagonist that is able to survive the odyssey around the world first. Do not trust large bodies of water, and do not cross them. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading someone knows my name. I loved this book when i first read it in 2011 and really enjoyed rereading listening to this one as a buddy read with a friend. Someone knows my name is the extraordinary story of aminata diallo who as a child of eleven was stolen from the african village of bayo and enslaved. Fleeing to canada after the revolutionary war, she escapes to attempt a new life in freedom. The stuff of life was published in september 20 by house of anansi press.
What is the significance of the title someone knows my name 2. Book of negroes my friend in toronto told me i must read this book. Lawrence hill is the author of the novels, someone knows my name published as the book of negroes in cabada, any known blood and some great thing and of the nonfiction work the deserters tale with joshua key. The novel won the 2007 rogers writers trust fiction. Lawrence hills book published as the the book of negroes in canada and as someone knows my name in the usa is a brilliantly imagined novel based on. The novel spans a period of more than forty years and is narrated in the voice of aminata aka. Aminata diallo is enslaved as a child in 1745 and lives through six decades by working in the indigo fields of south carolina, revolutionary wartorn new york city, and free communities in nova scotia and sierra leone. I never knew much about the transatlantic slave trade and in this book you will read the pages of truth about black loyalists and their history. In 1802, aminata goes to london to help the cause of the british abolitionists. Published in canada as the book of negroes and the basis for the awardwinning bet miniseries of the same name.
This study guide consists of approximately 64 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the book of negroes. Someone knows my name is a compelling and fascinating account of one womans remarkable experiences that spans six decades and three continents as a slave from childhood through to her death. Published here as someone knows my name, ontario native lawrence hills novel was also well received, if far more quietly. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. It instantly grabbed my attention and didnt let go until the last sentence. The book of negroes someone knows my name by ria jane on. The book of negroes is bets first miniseries based on the critically acclaimed novel someone knows my name in the us, which critics described as transporting and heartstopping. Someone knows my name is a masterpiece, daring and impressive in its geographic, historical and human reach, convincing in its narrative art and detail, necessary for. Years before i began writing someone knows my name, i came across two startling discoveries in a scholarly work. As one can imagine, the tragedies depicted in the the book of negroes. It is the story of a heroic woman in the eighteenth century, and i felt that the best way to lift her off the page was to love her like i love my own daughter. Hi janetyesterday i found out that hill had originally titled the book the book of negroes.
I read that thousands of african americans fled slavery to serve the british, who promised to liberate them in. Its about a woman with great faith and determination and a loyalty to her homeland. In it, hill exquisitely imagines the tale of an eighteenthcentury womans life, spanning six decades and three continents. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Lawrence hill is the author of several fiction and nonfiction books, including the novel someone knows my name and the memoir black berry, sweet juice. The significance of the title is breathtaking in its simplicity and power. The book also came in very good condition and would use this company again. Location sullivans island was the point of entry for over 160 000 of. Bookclubinabox discusses someone knows my name the book of negroes, the novel by lawrence hill book.
What is your opinion about hills suggestion that aminatas very youthfulness at the time of her abduction enables her emotional survival, even as some of the adults in her world show signs of crumbling. Jan 21, 2008 in the end, with the last page read and the book percolating in the mind, its not the history and horror or the lore of someone knows my name that linger. I think they also made a tv series about this book called someone knows my name. Dec 16, 2008 lawrence hill is the author of several novels including someone knows my name, which won the commonwealth writers prize and the rogers writers trust fiction prize and was nominated in the united states for the huston wright legacy award. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Someone knows my name by lawrence hill overdrive rakuten. Someone knows my name book hennepin county library.
This novel tells the story of protagonist aminata diallo. The book of negroes someone knows my name by ria jane on prezi. The inescapable patriarchy in the book of negroes and milk and honey. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the book of negroes by lawrence hill. The book follows the life of one girl taken from her village when she was 11 years old. The book of negroes tv miniseries 2015 trivia imdb. Publishers changed the name of the book from book of negroes to someone knows my name because the term negro has become a derogatory term to many people in the u. The slave owner marks the bodies of those he owns, but when the enslaved take possession of words, spoken and especially written, they move toward freedom. Dec 04, 2007 listen to someone knows my name audiobook by lawrence hill. The book of negroes someone knows my name by lawrence.
It documents the 3,000 blacks who had served the king in the war and were fleeing manhattan for canada in 1783. So, i looked for the title it goes by in canada, the book of negroes. Someone knows my name by lawrence hill book club discussion. Someone knows my name a novel written by lawrence hill and has been published by w. Someone knows my name lawrence hill this study guide consists of approximately 64 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the book of negroes. As always, each reader must judge the books merits. Her travels continue to nova scotia, sierra leone, back to the interior or africa and ending in london. The pre and postpublication media in the usa were in general agreement, as were bookbrowses members who voted it one of the top four books of 2007. Click download or read online button to get someone knows my name a novel book now. Someone knows my name by lawrence hill fantastic fiction.
The book of negroes someone knows my name essays are academic essays for citation. I couldnt find it at first and then as i was about to order it from a canadian bookseller, i noticed that the cover was the same as a book here called someone knows my name. Rather, its aminatas spirit, summed up in a haunting warning. Someone knows my name a novel download ebook pdf, epub. The book of negroes, also known as someone knows my name, is a novel written by author lawrence hill, which was originally published during 2007. When it was published in canada in 2007, the book of negroesnamed for a historical document that listed every slave who sailed to nova scotia under british protectionbecame an instant, prizewinning hit. Published in canada as the book of negroes and the basis for the award winning bet miniseries of the same name. The eponymous book refers to a historical document kept by the british military in which was recorded the names of 3,000 blacks who had served the king in the war.
Here, as the american revolution is winding down, she participates in setting down an amazing document, the book of negroes, a list of loyalist blacks rewarded. Download pdf the book of negroes ebook free online. Oct 26, 2007 really loved the book, really went into all the details about what happened back in the slave days. In someone knows my name, as in the slave narratives that inspired it, language is power. Listen to someone knows my name by lawrence hill at. Lawrence hills novel someone knows my name was first published in canada in 2007 under the title the book of negroes. He has worked as a journalist for the globe and mail and the winnipeg free press, and lives in hamilton, ontario. In the united states, hills novel was published under the more generic title someone knows my name. Complete summary of lawrence hills someone knows my name.
But it was his third novel, the book of negroes harpercollins canada, 2007 published in some countries as someone knows my name and in french as aminata that attracted widespread attention in canada and other countries. Jan 18, 2007 someone knows my name is a compelling and fascinating account of one womans remarkable experiences that spans six decades and three continents as a slave from childhood through to her death. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Reading guide for someone knows my name by lawrence hill. Every scene and chapter leaves you wanting to know what is going to happen next. The book of negroes dreaming of escaping her life of slavery in south carolina and returning to her african home, slave aminata diallo is thrown into the chaos of the revolutionary war, during which she helps create a list of black people who have been honored for their service to the king. This work of historical fiction was published with its new title in the united states in 2008.
Jan 20, 2008 in someone knows my name, as in the slave narratives that inspired it, language is power. In the united states, australia and new zealand, the novel was published under the title someone knows my name. The slave owner marks the bodies of those he owns, but when the enslaved take possession of words. Hill has created an uplifting and highly educational story about a shameful part of history. The book of negroes is sold in the united states under the title, someone knows my name. The remarkable thing about lawrence hills fourth novel, someone knows my name, the life story of an african muslim girl sold into slavery, isnt her physical survival.
Lawrence hills new book doesnt lessen the awfulness of the times, but adds a unique human dimension. Really loved the book, really went into all the details about what happened back in the slave days. Someone knows my name, by lawrence hill anz litlovers. Literary fiction by people of color book discussions. Lawrence hill s someone knows my name, published by norton in 2007, is his fourth novel. A novel this is a spellbinding novel about a child who was kidnapped in africa, put aboard a slave ship and transported to sullivans island, just outside of charleston. Would that all historical novelists might do the amount of research lawrence hill has clearly done for someone knows my name. The book of negroes, novel by lawrence hill, published in 2007 under the title someone knows my name in the united states, australia, and new zealand. She was abducted from west africa as a child and sold into slavery within south.
More lawrence hill is an awardwinning canadian novelist and memoirist. If you liked the tv series roots then you will love this. The book of negroes is a 2007 awardwinning novel from canadian writer lawrence hill. Lawrence hill s 2008 commonwealth writers prizewinner originally hit shelves as the book of negroes in his native canada. Lawrence hill talks about his new book, someone knows my name at the writers institute of georgia perimeter college. It was a quick read for me simply because i didnt want to put it down. An african american woman ellis becomes a scribe for the british, recording the names of runaway slaves who have earned their freedom. Someone knows my name a powerful historically accurate book that brings alive the life of one woman enduring the emotional and physical hardships of slavery written so well and so lyrically that we feel and see all she does we are there it is a visceral experience. Someone knows my name is a fictional autobiography of aminata meena diallo, who was captured in guinea at the age of 11, enslaved initially in south carolina and eventually emancipated to one day bear witness to the injustices of slavery. In lawrence hills wonderfully written fictional slave narrative, someone knows my name, the protagonist exhibits similar proof on my flesh. I gave the protagonist, aminata diallo, my eldest daughters middle name. But its the girls emotional survival, her constant and ferocious fight for humanity that gives the book its considerable soul. Jun 05, 2015 the book of negroes is bets first miniseries based on the critically acclaimed novel someone knows my name in the us, which critics described as transporting and heartstopping. The novel won the 2007 rogers writers trust fiction prize and the 2008 commonwealth writers prize.
Lawrence hill is the author of several novels including someone knows my name, which won the commonwealth writers prize and the rogers writers trust fiction prize and was nominated in the united states for the huston wright legacy award. The fascinating story that hill tells is a work of the soul and the imagination. A novel by lawrence hill available from rakuten kobo. Aminata diallo is kidnapped from africa as a child and sold as a slave in south carolina. Aminata survived the horrors of the slave ship, rape by her first owner, appleby, p160, the theft of both her children and the constant danger of being reenslaved once she had regained her freedom. Someone knows my name is a masterpiece, daring and impressive in its geographic, historical and human reach, convincing in its narrative art and detail, necessary for imagining the real beyond the traces left by history. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. The story focuses on aminata diallo, who was born in west africa in 1745. I used the book of negroes as the title for my novel, in canada, because it derives from a historical document of the same name kept by british naval officers at the tail end of the american revolutionary war. Why im not allowed my book title books the guardian. In the first part of the story, aminatas childhood and capture is described. Someone knows my name the book of negroes lawrence hill, 2007 w. I was irritated, but gradually ive come to make my peace with the new title, someone knows. Sure, thats wrenchingly rendered and gives the story its heart.
Lawrence hills someone knows my name, published by norton in 2007, is his fourth novel the story focuses on aminata diallo, who was born in west africa in 1745. A novel and millions of other books are available for instant access. Her travels continue to nova scotia, sierra leone, back to. Someone knows my name was originally published as the book of negroes in canada, where it received wide praise. Jun 10, 2014 someone knows my name is just one of three titles. Glad i dont have to go to work in the morning because i read late into the night for 2 nights to see what happens next. Someone knows my name had me hooked from the first few pages. Bookclubinabox discusses someone knows my name the.
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