Caryl Phillips is renowned for his penetrating exploration of identity, culture, and history, often focusing on the experiences of diasporic communities and the complexities of cross-cultural life. His style is characterized by its lyrical prose and deep psychological insight into his characters. Phillips delves into themes of alienation, displacement, and the search for belonging, with his works reflecting his own background of migration and cultural encounters. His writing is marked by a strong narrative drive, examining how the past continuously intertwines with the present.
As the American War of Independence reaches its climax, a plantation slave and a British Naval Officer embark on a journey in search of freedom. This novel is a true story that marks the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire.