George Elliott Clarke

Beatrice Chancy is set in 1801 in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. Beatrice is the daughter of a black slave who was raped by her white master. Raised in the master's house, Beatrice is beautiful, clever, kind, and cultured-her father's prize possession. Her declaration of love for a slave sparks tension that culminates in a monstrous act: the rape of Beatrice by her own father. From here, violence begets violence until her father is killed and Beatrice is hanged for his death. The passion and sorrow of Beatrice Chancy's story are matched only by the brilliance of the language used to express it.

"For booksellers uncertain about shelving this with plays or poetry, neither is apt. Beatrice Chancy is a singular creative work that should be shelved under tour de force or must read." --Quill & Quire Starred Review