Summary: Published in 1998 and classified as a modern classic, the Poisonwood Bible tells the story of the wife of a Baptist Reverend Minister and their four children – Racheal, Leah, Adah and Ruth May. In 1959, Nathan Price took his family to Belgian Congo to spread the Gospel of Christ. Told from five (5) perspectives, and spanning three decades, the Price’s family story is greatly transformed on African soil.
I first read the Poisonwood Bible in 2017 but I was unable to finish it. In recent years, I have recommended it to a few bookish friends who wanted postcolonial historical fiction from a non-African perspective. I picked this up a few weeks ago and I was very determined to finish the last sentence of the book.
I do not know where to start this review from. The Poisonwood Bible is a multi-layered story that slowly unfolds exploring complex themes such as religion, colonialism in Africa, governance, culture, and the exploitation of African countries for Western benefit. Over the years, I have read the slavery and colonialism story from the African perspective. This is my first book that describes the strategy and schemes of the Europeans purely from a non-African perspective.
Barbara Kingsolver's craft is amazing as it gives the reader different interpretations and meanings for Western influence in Africa. For me, there were so many intricate themes I had to sit and ponder on. The novel is set in Congo shortly before Patrice Lumumba won independence in 1960. I loved the description of the people, the places, and the culture.
Narrated from not one, not two, not three but five Points of View, the Poisonwood Bible gives the reader a sense of appreciation of the people of the land - who they are, what they stand for and their unwavering belief in their past and customs.
Of all the themes highlighted and discussed, I was intrigued by the portrayal of the ethnocentrism and clash of cultures in this book. When the Europeans arrived in Africa, they believed their culture and religion were superior to that of the natives. Consequently, they began to judge the African way of life by their “so-called” religious standards.
Rev. Nathan Price’s character and his missionary work in Kilanga symbolize ethnocentrism and cultural clash.
I also loved that Barbara Kingsolver explores the Europeans and the US imperialist policies toward Africa.
Aside from these themes, the book explores family, parenting, love, marriage, racism, hope, forgiveness, and survival.
Another thing that I loved about the book is the writing. Barbara Kingsolver tackled such weighty subjects with a touch of poetic language and a great deal of tact and wisdom. I loved Leah and Adah’s PoVs from their childhood to their adult life. The use of language is simply amazing – a work of art.
If you want a book that criticizes Western Influence in Africa, then I recommend this book.
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