Book: The Viceroy of Ouidah
Author: Bruce Chatwin
Pages: 160
Book takes place in the country: YES
Author is from the country: NO
I have visited: NO
This is my 66th book of the year
This is the story mostly of the life of Francisco Manoel da Silva who was an African slave trader in the 1800s. The book starts with his annual celebration of his life (after he has passed away) by his impoverished decendents in Benin. These decendents are sure da Silva has left them riches hidden somewhere that they have yet to find.
I am winding down this Read The World challenge, and the countries I am left with - it was hard to find books for them. Let's put it that way. This one wasn't bad. It was dry. It was FINE. It had interesting chapters and chapters that I felt I wish I could have skipped. It lacked substance to make it a great novel. However - it is only 160 pages long, so I guess that shouldn't come as much of a surprise.
I didn't learn much. A bit about Benin and the slave trade - yes. But to make heads or tails of the many people discussed in this short novella? No.
Stars: 3
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