As Flies to Whatless Boys

June 24, 2013
Trinidad is the sultry backdrop for an intricately imagined historical novel from Antoni (Carnival) about voyages of discovery undertaken generations apart. In 1881, William Tucker, soon to return to London, tells his son the story of why their family left England in 1845. William’s father had fallen in with the bombastic German inventor J.A. Etzler, who claimed his Satellite machine could ”save the labouring-masses” and revolutionize agriculture—that is, if he could test it at a new-world colony. Only after sailing to Trinidad aboard the Rosalind did Etzler’s colonists discover the full extent of his “boldface bamboozlement.” Still, the transatlantic pilgrimage nurtured William’s first love, with mute, beautiful Marguerite. The mystery of what happened to Etzler’s colony and to Marguerite incites the present-tense storyline, consisting of e-mails Antoni receives from Trinidad archivist Miss Ramsol, whom he “subjuices” (her word) while researching his Tucker ancestry during a visit. Her bawdily funny, patois-heavy missives showcase Antoni’s superlative ear for the intricacies of language, Caribbean rhythms in particular. And William’s account of young love attests to Antoni’s fluency in the poetry of nostalgia. In words as vibrant as the personalities he creates, Antoni deftly captures unconquered territories and the risks we’re willing to take exploring them. Agent: Kim Witherspoon, Inkwell Management.

August 1, 2013
Antoni (Carnival, 2005, etc.) offers up a novel set in 19th-century and modern-day Trinidad. Some believe that John Adolphus Etzler is a con artist, but the charismatic inventor asserts that his new nature-powered machine, the Satellite, will free men from all forms of labor. Although his claims may be a bit too good to be true--in fact, the machine's public unveiling and demonstration isn't exactly stellar--British citizens of all classes are willing to fill Etzler's coffers and invest in his newly founded Tropical Emigration Society. Their dream: to establish a Utopian society in Trinidad using Etzler's apparatus. Among the emigrants is the Tucker family, including 15-year-old Willy, who narrates the story. While onboard the Rosalind, Willy contrives to spend his time with socially prominent 18-year-old Marguerite Whitechurch, who communicates through writing because she lacks vocal cords. They fall deeply in love and find creative ways to spend time together--at first furtively and then more openly as few appear to notice or care. Following the long voyage, Etzler (who spent a couple of days tied to the mast for an outrageous claim), absconds to South America and leaves the investors to travel by schooner from Port au Prince to Chaguabarriga, the site of their future community. To the men's dismay, Etzler's machine ends up stuck in the water, the schooner is damaged, and they discover that the plot they purchased is little more than swampland. The men try to salvage what they can, but more misery strikes--this time in the form of Black Vomit (yellow fever)--and Willy must wrestle with decisions that will impact the future. Although wearisome at times, the emotional influence of Willy's narrative--his loving descriptions of the people who surround him--is profoundly effective. Some may be discouraged by the characters' use of dialect, which initially is difficult to comprehend, but it's a crucial element of the story. It's the modern-day correspondence from T&T National Archives Director Miss Ramsol to writer "Robot" that provides many laugh-out-loud moments and endears Antoni (who pokes fun at himself) to the reader. Strikes strong emotional chords.

COPYRIGHT(2013) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2013

A rollicking 19th-century colonial tale blends history with imagination as a mixed group of London citizens is motivated by a charismatic charlatan to start a utopian community in Trinidad. Interspersed throughout the narrative are passages from the present, detailing erotic liaisons that take place between a researcher and the author as he attempts to verify the facts of the story. However arduous it is to follow, the work is a virtual triumph of special effects. Making one's way through convoluted sentence structure and pages of dialect and unique spelling can be as painstaking as translating a book written in an unfamiliar language. The key question becomes whether the reader will be swept up in the magic of the long and difficult journey or be swept overboard by the torrent. VERDICT Antoni (Divina Trace) isn't a shy creator, writing for those who would welcome a challenge rather than a speedy read.--Joyce Townsend, Pittsburg, CA

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.