The Polished Hoe - by Austin Clarke (Paperback)

About the Book

Originally published: Canada: Thomas Allen, 2002.

From the Back Cover

When Mary-Mathilda, one of the most respected women of the island of Bimshire (also known as Barbados) calls the police to confess to a crime, the result is a shattering all-night vigil that brings together elements of the island's African past and the tragic legacy of colonialism in one epic sweep.

Set in the West Indies in the period following World War II, The Polished Hoe -- an Essence bestseller and a Washington Post Book World Most Worthy Book of 2003 -- unravels over the course of twenty-four hours but spans the collective experience of a society characterized by slavery.

Review Quotes

"Uncommonly talented, Clarke sees deeply, and transmits his visions and perceptions so skillfully that reading him is an adventure." - Publishers Weekly
"Endlessly fascinating...creatively executed....[The Polished Hoe] is certain to be met with critical acclaim in the U.S." - Booklist
"Published in hardcover to great acclaim, is [a]...complex story...[that] deftly reveals an abominable state of sexual oppression and racist tyranny and the revenge both can invoke." - Library Journal
"[An] eloquent, richly detailed novel . . . .[that] unfolds through brilliantly written dialogue." - Publishers Weekly
"Mesmerizing. . . .Clarke's heroine. . .begins a murder confession . . .steeped in slavery, colonialism, and sexual exploitation." - New York Times Book Review
"Clarke's waltzing speech rhythms and sly humor, reminiscent of V. S. Naipaul...[contribute] to a Wagnerian crescendo." - Boston Globe
"Lyrical...seductive...hypnotic....In this politically engaged novel, we are reminded that when it comes to colonialism, one never comes to any sort of final understanding." - Houston Chronicle
"The beauty of the novel...lies in the poetry of its telling and the marvelous voice of Mary-Mathilda...a marvelous creation. It bubbles with the voices of a now-vast literature of the African diaspora." - Washington Post Book World
"A well-crafted novel." - Austin American-Statesman
"If the literary gods are feeling fair, Clarke will now receive attention from U.S. readers." - Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"Clarke's waltzing speech rhythms and sly humor, reminiscent of V. S. Naipaul, camouflage the rising tension and the final shock, all of it contributing to a Wagnerian crescendo." - Boston Globe
"Mesmerizing....steeped in slavery, colonialism, and sexual exploitation." - New York Times Book Review
"Magnificent. . . The Polished Hoe oozes unrequited love and seduction under duress." - San Antonio Express-News
"The story will captivate readers." - Daily Oklahoman