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General Fiction » Providence Pond
Synopsis - Providence Pond Providence Pond, Beresford McLean’s second novel, is a true Jamaican tale rooted in local folklore and African mythology. Here, British thought battles ancient African customs in reshaping Providence, a small rural community located in the backlands of western Saint Mary. Set between the 1880s and 1920s, Providence Pond traces four generations of struggle and growth in the enigmatic King Family. Their communal life style, centered...
Title: Providence Pond Overview For Providence Pond Bitter conflict and raw excitement abound as deep religious and political fervor divide and set ablaze the Caribbean community of Providence Pond, a former British slave holding in the futile valleys of western St. Mary, Jamaica. As this community struggles for life and definition following the passing of slavery, the imperative – which native religion, political ideology, or vestige of British thinking will prevail to lead the nascent community – must be resolved. During slavery the answer was clear: British thought must prevail. The eventual collapse of the strong, central British control gave rise to African traditions that were long kept semi-dormant in the distant backlands of huge slave plantation. Various factions – African, Indian, and British – vie for social and political dominance. The momentous events of Providence Pond are staged above the backdrop of the still larger conflict of World War 1. In Providence Pond there is first a triangular grouping derived from remnants of Ashanti, Congo and, British elements locked in the struggle to define the “only way.” As the country forges along and the conflict in Providence Pond escalates, Congo King the leader of the forbidden Kumina sect, finds himself pitted in impending battle against the ad hoc Ashanti-Christian coalition – lead by the Anglican Reverend, Bernard Watkins. The torch is set! McLean’s Providence Pond is a tale of wisdom and deep socio-political insight. It offers a fresh opportunity – yet another way of looking at our own modern conditions: to reevaluate past credence and prejudices – and finding new ways of courageously living old concepts. Other Beresford McLean books:
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…  A Very Strange Trip While transporting a contraband Russian time machine and developmental weaponry from Trenton Arse … Book Reviews:Reviews of Providence Pond Beresford McLean’s Providence Pond is an engaging narrative of resilience, hope-in-despair following severance from ancestral hearths, of on-going spiritual renewal and the power of love as part of the intangible heritage of Africa in the Americas. It not only makes a good read but also commands a mandatory embrace by all who treasure the invincibility of the human spirit against all odds. Rex Nettleford. Vice Chancellor Emeritus. University of the West Indies Providence Pond transports you to a different era and place. It's a delightful read, a cultural feast! Paul H. Williams - Jamaica Gleaner Warm and caring Providence Pond is a novel about a truly exotic world that readers will be pleased to come to know. ForeWard Rooted in Jamaican folklore and African mythology, Providence Pond by novelist Beresford McLean is a remarkable tale depicting British attempts to influence ancient African customs in the process of reshaping Providence, Jamaica. Engaging the reader with its exceptionally well written and quite unique perspective, Providence Pond draws upon the communal Jamaican lifestyle centered in the African mores of Kumina wisdom and the everyday experiences of the Jamaican natives as their family concepts of love, truth, and hope are all threatened by the largely British-dominant society. Highly entertaining, Providence Pond is very strongly recommended reading and a welcome addition to any community library fiction collection. Mid West Book Review
Novelist Beresford McLean’s Providence Pond is a timeless and unforgettable story of raging passions, unions and betrayals, infidelities and reconciliations, and the parallel story of a community’s rebirth. Providence Pond is a narrative extravaganza that will keep readers engaged from beginning to end.
Bud Harris, Ph.D. Author of Sacred Selfishness
McLean's Providence Pond is a spiritual family epic set in Jamaica between the 1880s and 1920s. A trip worth taking. Kirkus Reviews Providence Pond’s 500 pages are divided into four parts; each involves four generations of the King family between 1880-1920. The book closes with an afterword that provides insight into some of the issues in Jamaica over the years. I am glad that I read the book through to the end. I was certainly intrigued by the beliefs, culture and drumming. EzineArticles.com Expert AuthorMcLean’s Providence Pond is a timely, engaging tale, rich in cultural mores and ancient wisdom. It is a delicious narrative told with warmth and wit. Providence Pond is a highly recommended read – a must for every bookshelf!Cyril Heitner, PhD., retired: McGill University.
This novel is a well-written love story entwined with "authentic" Jamaican legends and customs. BookPleasuresMcLean is an exciting newcomer to contemporary literature who writes of offbeat characters with an eloquent, unique voice. His great imagination and poetic prose take you on a journey through the lives of these islanders that you will not soon forget. It is very enlightening. MyShelf McLean's writing style is really refreshing and quite unique. Tami Brady – TCM Reviews Providence Pond is a warm and engaging tale of family, love, and friendship. The folklore base of the story gives it a feeling of a family tale passed down to the reader, with the parable of only needing to show love. This is a wonderful novel, and I look forward to more of Beresford McLean’s work. Author Beresford McLean weaves an inspiring, haunting tale of rural Jamaica during a time when British culture is influencing the native people. Each of the four parts involves the King family throughout the 1880s-1920s. McLean has written a well-rounded, touching book that draws his readers into the lives of this remarkable family, and makes one wish the book was not coming to an end. I enjoyed Providence Pond very much, and am looking forward to the next work by Beresford McLean. Shaley Melchior - Reader Views |
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