Unheard Voices: An Anthology of Stories and Poems to Commemorate the Bicentenary Anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade

by Malorie Blackman

In March 1807, the British Parliament passed an Act making the trading and transportation of slaves illegal. It was many years before slavery, as it was known then, was abolished, and slavery still continues today in different ways, but it was a big step forward towards the empancipation of a people. Malorie Blackman has drawn together some of the finest of today's writers and poets to contribute to this important anthology. Their short stories and poems sit alongside first-hand accounts of slavery from freed slaves, making a fascinating and absorbing collection that remembers and commemorates one of the most brutal and long-lasting inflictions of misery that human beings have inflicted upon other human beings.

Genres: Young Adult, Poetry, Anthologies, Fiction, Historical

276 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 15, 2007

About the author

An award-winning children's author, Malorie Blackman was honoured with an OBE in 2008. Her work has been adapted for TV and stage.

More information available at:
Myspace
British Council: Contemporary Authors
British Council: Encompass Culture
Channel 4 Learning: Book Box

Reviews

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading an interview with Malorie Blackman years ago when I first stumbled across her Noughts and Crosses series, in which she discussed her reasons for wanting to dwell on the painful topic of slavery, an era of history that the majority of us would prefer to leave buried in the past. I searched for it after finishing this anthology and found the quote I was looking for - the words that had stayed with me for so long. Blackman stated "I really believe the subject of slavery is terribly important - especially in this day and age. I think it gives a context to modern day Western World thinking and attitudes regarding other races and cultures."

That's the view that this anthology - collected and published in 2007 to mark the 200th anniversary of the British Abolition of the Slave Trade Act - gives voice to. The stories and poems of Unheard Voices (some historical and some contemporary) are enlightening, particularly those towards the end of the collection, which touch on the legacy of slavery. The stories selected are haunting and have piqued my interest in this era of modern history. So many of the extracts compiled here touched my heart and I hope to read them in full someday.

A collection recommended especially to teenagers, but accessible to all. 4.5 stars.

[Mike Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well selected mixture of texts - fiction, literary non-fiction and poetry - all focusing on the slave trade. The book is split into different sections it begins by focusing on the capture of slaves, then the ship journey to America and the sale, then life as a slave and so on. There are plenty of extracts from longer pieces of writing that could inform further reading if you chose, but alongside these are shorter contributions and poetry.

If I'm honest, it is slightly repetitive at times, and I'm not a massive fan of Benjamin Zephaniah and he's featured a couple of times. Nevertheless, there's lots of powerful issues and more than enough good writing to make it well worth a read.

[Juanita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: Unheard Voices by Malorie Blackman.

This is a book of different stories and poems of people who were in held in slavery many years ago. It was well written and organized to show that slavery is an inhuman trade in history to capture the misery and suffering of those who could not escape injustice. Malorie Blackman gathered together riveting stories and first hand recollections on the theme of slavery.

Among the collections gathered were people like John Agard, Olaudah Equiano, Alex Haley, Benjamin Zephaniah and one of the works appears alongside is an original story that was foreword from Malorie herself. The stories are from the early 1800 19s to the end of that century. The stories capture the lives of the slaves through the seizing of the people, the transporting, the trading, the punishments, the hunger, the sexual abuse, and the terrible horror of separating family members especially the mothers who had their children taken away at an early age to sell at the markets and never to be seen again.

This was an inspiring stimulating book of stories and poems of the past, forever to be told with honor to these people and reminding the readers to look forward to our future, because changes and events are happening in all Countries now. We need to move forward in which all people of the world may live together in Freedom 26 26

[Nouf Alfadl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I never read this book

[Zoe-Katarina (KattieKay) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good collection of extracts that highlights the horror of the slave trade. It was well collected, and a good mix of stories, diary extracts and poems