Joanne Joseph has written a brilliant work of historical fiction, Children of Sugarcane, and so I invited her back to In The Ring for a book interview. I simply had to engage the thematic range of this very exciting new book that everyone should buy and read.
In this novel, we journey with an indentured labourer, Shanti, and through her arrival in Port Natal, and the stories that unfold, we get a close account of the myriad ways in which the violence of Empire impacted the lives of those oppressed by the British.
The deceptively easy style and accessibility of this novel belies important complexities beneath the racy plot. From an examination of the sheer physical violence meted out by overseers subjugating and violating 'subjects', to a more subtle feminist critique of gender relations within the Indian community, to complex meditation on the very idea of 'home', and much more in between across law, politics and society, this book will no doubt travel well across place and time, and find audiences everywhere.
It was a joy to engage Joanne by stepping back from the detail of the plot, and having a conversation located inside the major themes that inspire the novelist to produce this very important work.
Enjoy
