Lydia Bailey

by Kenneth Roberts
Category: "Fiction - Historical"
Pages:488
Year of Publication:1947
Date Added:05/13/2008
Date Read:05/06/2008
Notes:Albion Hamlin sees a portrait of Lydia Bailey and falls in love with her. When he finds out she's working as a tutor in Haiti, he travels there, only to arrive just as the revolution of Toussaint L'Ouverture is underway. He makes friends with King Dick, an enormous Black man who is amazingly resourceful. Albion finds Lydia, but gets caught up in the war and is forced to serve as an aide to a mad general. The lovers (Lydia, of course, falls for Albion immediately) escape on a ship bound for France. They get married by King Dick (who is qualified because of his position in the government). Their ship is captured by Tripolitan pirates during the Barbary Wars. Albion and Lydia are separated for several years as Lydia serves as a tutor to a prince and Albion is forced to work as a gardener. They finally escape with King Dick's help and join in Eaton's expedition.
My Rating: 5

Reviews for Lydia Bailey

Review - Lydia Bailey

The relationship between Albion and Lydia is shallow and unconvincing. King Dick, who is by far the most interesting character in the book, is too extravagant to ring true. It feels like Roberts found out some interesting stuff about Haiti and about Tripoli and decided throw in some characters to make a book.

Reviewed by Roger on 2008-05-13 18:25:12

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