Yellow Wife: Book review


Book review


Title: Yellow Wife
Author: Sadeqa Johnson
Genre: Historical fiction

Set in 1850s, Yellow wife is based on a true story and a harrowing tale of an enslaved woman’s journey from a bell plantation to Lapier Jail. 

17 year old Phebe Delores lives in a bell plantation and is extraordinarily beautiful. Due to her mother’s illicit relationship with the plantation owner, Phebe is promised to be freed when she turns 18. And Phebe is also in love with Essex who works in the plantation. But things do not turn out the way they are expected to. Instead Phebe finds herself at the receiving end of deaths, tragedy and betrayals. She ends up in Lapier Jail where she becomes the yellow wife of the owner of the slave house and finds means of survival in brutal conditions. 

The first person narration from the point of view of Phebe, gives a glimpse into her emotions, hopes and burden that she carries. You see an inhumane world with sadistic individuals who mercilessly beat up slaves and sexually exploit women. The characters are all complex, emotional and multilayered. Amidst the hatred and gut wrenching instances, one sees kindness, love and compassion towards their children and some of their companions. What stands out is the characterization of Phebe. Her ability to appear confident, hopeful and courageous elicits admiration from the reader.  Her attempts to find solace in music and books is one of the silver linings amidst this dark cloud she lives in. 

The author attempts to showcase the physical, emotional and psychological implications of slavery and racism.   At the same time she touches upon nuances of freedom, beauty and motherhood. 

Yellow wife is a story that is moving and  heartrending. As it deals with a sensitive and horrifying subject, It is bound to induce a lot of pain and myriad emotions. 


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