The Bridge of Beyond (Caribbean Writers Series) [Paperback]

Simone Schwarz-Bart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1982 | ISBN-10: 0435987704 | ISBN-13: 978-0435987701

Tells of the survival power of the women of Guadeloupe who live in conditions of extreme poverty and deprivation and yet are filled with courage and love for life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This aptly titled novel takes the reader to many "beyonds." Through the life of Telumee Lougandor we meet a proud line of women who live in small villages in Guadeloupe: women whose lives are beyond Africa, beyond the slavery that in theory has been abolished, and beyond the physical restrictions of their difficult existence which is eased only by their faith in the spirit world. In the day-to-day lives of Telumee and her grandmother Toussine - washing clothes at the river, tending to a garden, working as a house-servant, and interacting with others in the villages - Simone Schwartz-Bart shows lives linked by common suffering. Ma Cia, a witch "closer to the dead than the living," soundly advises young Telumee: "Be a fine little Negress, a real drum with two sides. Let life bang and thump, but keep the underside always intact." While doing their "women's work" - work they must do to survive - the Lougandor women not only endure, they grow. They love, lose at love, and allow themselves to love again. They know the meaning of oppression - sometimes by other villagers or the men in their lives and always by the whites. The Bridge Of Beyond is a view of unending hardships made bearable by the love and wisdom of elders - especially grandmother Toussine - and the healing power of the spirit world. -- For great reviews of books for girls, check out Let's Hear It for the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14. -- From 500 Great Books by Women; review by Holly Smith --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

Text: English, French (translation)

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann (January 1, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0435987704
• ISBN-13: 978-0435987701
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #446,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Magic from the French West Indies, November 7, 2000

By 

IsolaBlue (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bridge of Beyond (Caribbean Writers Series) (Paperback)

Set on the French West Indian island of Guadeloupe, The Bridge of Beyond traces a century of history of the Lougandor women beginning after the end of slavery. Five generations are followed, but the main story revolves around Toussine, the woman known as "Queen Without a Name," and her granddaughter, Telumee. The surprise in the book is that the reader can end up feeling such empathy with characters not fully developed in the traditional literary sense. Schwarz-Bart's women are both long-lived and ephemeral like the fairies and witches of the fairy-tale realm. Her entire novel has an otherworldly feel to it. It is a kind of magical tribute to women, self-reliance, living, and the power of self, and also addresses the ever-present West Indian literary theme of transcendence. One of the nicest pleasures of reading the book is the total envelopment one feels with nature. Schwarz-Bart's imagery is filled with references to the sun, moon, stars, flowers, trees, rivers, waves, and the sea. The imagery is repetitious until it becomes almost a written chant in which the story lives. A truly magical literary experience with a feminist foundation.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful and magical novel, July 11, 2004

By 

xiann "a reader" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bridge of Beyond (Caribbean Writers Series) (Paperback)

The Bridge of Beyond is about the lives of (about) three generations of Caribbean women from the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century. I found the book compelling for several reasons. For one, it is set in Guadeloupe and I learned a lot about that island which I previously knew nothing about. Also, the insight the book gave me into Caribbean culture reminds me of the constantly changing, pluralistic culture in which I live here in the United States. This book literally gave me big smiles, tears in my eyes, and a lot to think about. Anyone who is interested in the human condition would enjoy this book.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, inspiring, and hopeful, June 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Bridge of Beyond (Caribbean Writers Series) (Paperback)

This book is a wonderful example of the power of womenhood, of its rewards and its downfalls. It emphasizes the bond between women and mothers and grandmothers, and shows that women can survive without a man's help. The imagery and descriptions of the land are beautiful.