Not with Silver

by Simi Bedford

Abiola is a clever young warrior in West Africa, part of a highly developed society rich not only in trade, but also in metaphorical and spiritual understanding. But neither his prowess nor the sophistication of his culture can save him from betrayal, capture, and being sold into slavery. His name changes to Cornelius as he becomes the property of a Frenchman in the South, from whom he runs away to join the British in the Revolutionary War, hoping for a chance at freedom. He and his family eventually flee to the snowy misery of Nova Scotia, and from there are eventually repatriated back to West Africa—the story comes full circle, and Sierra Leone is named as the home of freed slaves. But all is not as Cornelius had Sierra Leone is run, like a colony, by white men, and though slave trading is officially banned, it continues, more lucrative for being driven underground. His daughter, Epiphany, however, has discovered that she has the same gift of metaphorical and spiritual understanding as her ancestors.

Genres: Nigeria

357 pages, Paperback

First published July 12, 2007

About the author

Simi Bedford is a Nigerian novelist based in Britain. Her best-known work is Yoruba Girl Dancing (1991), an autobiographical novel about a young Nigerian girl who is sent to England to receive a private school education.

She read Law at Durham University, and subsequently worked in the media, including as a radio presenter and a television researcher. Living in London, she married and raised three children. She is now divorced from her artist husband, Martin Bedford.

Reviews

[Hala Alzaghal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since i started reading this book i have wondered why there were no reviews on goodreads about it. As i started reading, the first 100 pages were a drag,talking about all these African myths,though i loved the lessons thought back then in Oyo. Then action started to happen. I fell in love with main character and learnt so much from him but then he died. The author kills lots of characters and gives birth to as many . But with each death and birth a lesson learned. It's end was marvelous. I can't believe what i am about to say but the end was PERFECT,overwhelmingly perfect.
N.b the book is about 400 pages of vintage writing. Pure vintage.

[windy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part about the aristocratic life in the old Oyo kingdom was the most interesting. That story is understandably cut short by the capture of the main character into slavery. The middle part, in America, was the weakest, all the characters seemed to speak in a similar wry style most of the time (even right after receiving a flogging). But all in all it was a not-too-bad historical novel.