David

January 1, 2013

Canadian author Robertson fictionally re-creates the Elgin Settlement, a refuge for free black men and a terminus of the Underground Railroad in Ontario before the Civil War. Born a slave in 1845 but raised in the settlement, the eponymous protagonist was given an excellent classical education in the expectation that he would become a minister like his mentor, Reverend King. Unfortunately David reads too deeply in the classics, discovering in them the refutation of religion. Defying Reverend King, David indulges in alcohol and other sins, and is eventually evicted from the colony. As the novel follows David's path to a successful life as a saloonkeeper in the nearby town of Chatham, he remembers life in the Settlement, the mistakes he made, and the people who made him what he has become. VERDICT This beautifully written novel with its discontinuous narrative, complex characters, and references to poets, philosophers, and other great thinkers is a challenging read that is well worth the effort. Although Robertson (Home Movies; Heroes; Moody Food; Gently Down the Stream) has won many Canadian literary awards, his work is unfamiliar to American readers. With this novel he has beautifully brought to life a segment of African-American history that is largely unknown in this country.--Andrea Kempf, formerly with Johnson Cty. Community Coll. Lib., Overland Park, KS

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