In 1770, in damp London, we meet Delphine Mouriѐre, a runaway slave, sneaking in to watch her brother Vincent in a boxing match at the shabby Theatre Royal. REMEMBER, REMEMBER casts a cold eye on what it meant to be born on a plantation and brought to a country where technically, slavery was not allowed, but in practice, the law was ignored by the wealthy.
The transatlantic slave trade mainly centered on Bristol and was referred to as the rum and sugar trade; the workers were on the third side of the shipping triangle. Before each chapter, we get a period newspaper extract commenting on this trade. Lord Harvey, resident at 20 St. James’s Square, London, owns the Harvey Plantation on St. Lucia where the brother and sister were born. Lord Harvey has promised Vincent his freedom if he can win enough money; but of course, when the man sees his fighter becoming valuable for wagering purposes, he doesn’t want to lose Vincent. Delphine gave that house the slip four years ago, and when Vincent also needs to escape, she tries to hide him at the Temple of Exotics with the ladies of the night. That doesn’t last long.
Delphine’s friends Marion, Charity, and Nick become involved in helping to defend Vincent, arguing that in England every man is free (not much was said about women in those times). A lengthy court case and the conditions aboard slaver ship Ann and Mary occupy a lot of the adventure. As for the title, REMEMBER, REMEMBER refers to the previous gunpowder plot to attempt to destroy the Houses of Parliament, and suggests that another revolution – of law, of society, or hearts and minds – is required. King George III was not a well man and made few appearances, let alone pronouncements that might upset his titled lords.
When reading historical fiction, it can be easy to forget who did the work, who carried the water and swept the carpets, who sewed the gowns and drove the carriages. Some of the wealthy folks are portrayed as cruel and appalling in nature; others are just thoughtless or assume that Delphine is a paid servant whether she is or not. Elle Machray looks at the humanity behind the people who largely went unseen, but whose work drove the Empire. This carefully researched novel will make many friends and stir much curiosity, as it should.
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