Island Beneath the Sea

A Novel

By: Isabel Allende

Narrated by: S. Epatha Merkerson

Length: 17 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Born a slave on the island of Saint-Domingue, Zarit - known as Tt - is the daughter of an African mother she never knew and one of the white sailors who brought her into bondage. Though her childhood is one of brutality and fear, Tt finds solace in the traditional rhythms of African drums and in the voodoo loas she discovers through her fellow slaves.

When 20-year-old Toulouse Valmorain arrives on the island in 1770, its with powdered wigs in his baggage and dreams of financial success in his mind. But running his fathers plantation, Saint Lazare, is neither glamorous nor easy. It will be eight years before he brings home a bride - but marriage, too, proves more difficult than he imagined. And Valmorain remains dependent on the services of his teenaged slave.

Spanning four decades, Island Beneath the Sea is the moving story of the intertwined lives of Tt and Valmorain, and of one woman's determination to find love amid loss, to offer humanity though her own has been battered, and to forge her own identity in the cruellest of circumstances.

©2010 Isabel Allende (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"In a many-faceted plot, Allende animates irresistible characters authentic in their emotional turmoil and pragmatic adaptability. She also captures the racial, sexual, and entrepreneurial dynamics of each society in sensuous detail while masterfully dramatizing the psychic wounds of slavery. Sexually explicit, Allende is grace incarnate in her evocations of the spiritual energy that still sustains the beleaguered people of Haiti and New Orleans." ( Booklist)

totally absorbing

A wonderful story of the plight, courage, resolve, and in some cases the triumph of Haitian slaves prior to, during and after the Haitian revolution. If you enjoy Alice Walker and Toni Morrison, or liked "The Help" then you will love this novel. I am new to the author so this was a great discovery. I couldn't put it down.

An enchanting story of Haiti ,Cuba and NewOrleans

This story gives u a look into the enchanting history of creole trade routes and how creole culture shape News Orleans.

Loved it!

Beautifully written, this is an emotional heart wrenching story of love, courage and triumph. I was hooked from the beginning and sad to finish it. That's the mark of excellence.

great story - horrible narration

Would you try another book from Isabel Allende and/or S. Epatha Merkerson?

the narrator almost succeeded in ruining this story - she reads as if she has just learned to pronounce so me of the big words and is so very proud of her accomplishment - no feeling - not emotion - just monotone reading. Her inflections make no sense and are totally misplaced

Would you be willing to try another one of S. Epatha Merkerson’s performances?

no - horrible narrator

Was Island Beneath the Sea worth the listening time?

because of the story - would have preferred reading this in print

Lively romantic read

Where does Island Beneath the Sea rank among all the audiobooks you???ve listened to so far?

This was an easy read or is that

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I was disappointed. the ending seemed rushed compared to other Allende tales.

A painful story worth reading

Open this book and be prepared for an emotional journey across time, cultures and relationships. This journey is often not easy but it is worth the price of the ticket.

Amazing! As always!

Wow! This vibrant story pulls you in from the beginning and never slows down. The historical accuracy is very well researched, and all encompassing of its time. I'm now inspired to go back and read all of her older books that I read in school. Wow!

Lovely!

So many characters to love and hate. Well written and beautifully narrated.

Isabel Allende is right up therewith Alexandre Dumas.

Bravo !

A Heartfelt Story

I enjoy this tragic but yet such a beautiful story of a woman who went through so much pain and heartache being a slave, she was strong and wise and was proud of herself and of who she was and of what her Family would accomplished being freed of slavery. She was spiritually connected with herself and her roots.

excellent listen

When I decided on this book I wasn't really sure how I would enjoy the subject but it had good reviews and was on the NY Times bestseller list. But with a setting first in Haiti with the French in charge in the late 1700's, slavery, the slave rebellion, a move to New Orleans of both French and slaves along with excellent writing by the author I found I really did enjoy it. Both from an historical and human perspective, it was easy to keep listening and the book just rolled along.