The Dahomean [Paperback]

Frank Yerby (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Dell Publishing (August 1980)
• ISBN-10: 0440117259
• ISBN-13: 978-0440117254
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,324,579 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great story that defies American stereotypes., April 7, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dahomean (Paperback)

The author created a tale that defies American stereotypes of captured and enslaved Africans. Mr Yerby painted a past life of the slave, Wesley Parks, that was a very interesting rendering of the culture of an African elite who was the governor of a province in the Dahomean empire This was a potrait of a complete man who had strong cultural ties, many skills and was a born leader. Unfortunately, Hwesu was born into a decadent society that enriched its rulers by conquering, capturing, selling and enslaving its neighbors. The jealousy and rage of relatives led to Hwesu\Wesley being enslaved. This is a story of love, passion, violence, inhumanity and survival. Hwesu was much more than a slave and his homeland much more complicated than popular American stereotypes.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Man From Dahomey, April 8, 2008

By 

Resident expert "Bad CC" (Leicester, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dahomean (Paperback)

I read this book as a reprint under the title "The man from Dahomey". It is an excellent novel capturing the intricacies of the life of a rich tribal chief in Africa who was sold into slavery. Frank Yerby's character development is excellent and detailed and the novel is thoroughly entertaining. The ending is however a true tragedy. I rate his novel 5 stars even though I prefer his brilliant novel of ancient Greece "The Goat Song".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Frank Yerby at his best, February 3, 2009

By 

Jenni Hart "Jenni" (PA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Dahomean (Paperback)

A story about Africans; their beliefs and their culture. The rivalries between tribes, how they sold each other into slavery, and their feelings about each other. Very well written and quite an insight into the history of the African nations.