The examination of race and identity is present throughout literature, and increasingly so today.
In his first novel, The library thief, Kuchenga Shenjé explores these concepts — and the associated expectations that arise when society demands that each group be carefully categorized. Shenjé delves into the past in this work of historical fiction, asking questions about black life in the Victorian era.
In this 19th-century English story, Florence, an ambitious bookbinder, is kicked out of her family home by her harsh and unforgiving father because she is dating a young man. Florence, an intelligent and savvy woman, persuades Lord Francis Belfield to let her stay at Rose Hall mansion by promising to restore the priceless books in her library in time for an imminent sale, assuring him that she is just as gifted as her father. Among Lord Belfield’s minimal team, Florence stands out as an educated and liberal woman.
But Florence is not as polite as she would have her new acquaintances believe. Being raised by a single father and not knowing her mother, who she was told was dead, created a void in Florence that she thought she could fill with books. She is adrift and doesn’t feel loved. This fragile foundation is fertile ground for the harrowing experiences Florence faces during her time at the mansion.
Florence arrives at Rose Hall to find that Lord Banfeild’s wife has died and the new widower is beside himself with grief. Immediately, Florence finds herself in the middle of a tightly woven intrigue of family secrets and lies that conveniently shroud the lives of the upper class. She becomes obsessed with Lady Persephone’s death and begins to investigate suspicious activity around her. During her investigation, she uncovers dark secrets of the Banfield family, including violence, abuse, and “transient” family members. This journey of discovery forces Florence to confront her own identity and the mysteries that surround her life.
Some characters in this novel, intentionally or not, pass as white because they find it easier than living as a black person in Victorian England. While the theme of “death” is frequently explored in literature from the 1920s and 30s, Shenjé looks at what it means to be a black person passing through the 19th century. She explores this theme in several ways: one character completely abandons her family to live as a white man, another maintains contact with her family but uses her husband’s wealth and influence to hide in plain sight, and the third character, perhaps the most intriguing. lives as a white person without knowing that she is actually black.
Florence is insecure about her own race and she passionately advocates for black rights. She is often offended by her friends’, neighbors’, and even her pastor’s views toward black people. Florence grew up in a white community and had limited interactions with black people, except through books, until she met Lady Persephone’s maid – a beautiful, charming, and highly educated black woman. “How could an entire section of humanity once considered animals write books and teach at universities and so on? We were lied to,” she said after a particularly gruesome sermon propagating the inferiority of Africans.
Sometimes Shenjé’s use of language aimed at inclusiveness fails to achieve what appears to be the desired effect. Debating gender roles in a very complex way seems forced and unrealistic. This is especially true when this language and philosophy is attributed to certain particular characters.
While The library thief doesn’t really break new ground when it comes to exploring issues of race and identity, it does have some entertaining elements. Wesley is a remarkable character who should have received more attention. If a film adaptation of the character were to happen, Patrick Walshe McBride would be a great choice to play the role. Shenjé also did a fantastic job inserting clues throughout the story that lead to the main character’s true identity. The best part of the book is the unexpected twist at the end that ties the murder mystery together. Congratulations to Shenjé for this surprise ending.
Keishel Williams is a Trinidadian American book reviewer, writer and editor specializing in arts and culture.
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