When Mary-Mathilda, one of the most respected women of the island of
Bimshire (also known as Barbados) calls the police to confess to a
crime, the result is a shattering all-night vigil that brings together
elements of the island's African past and the tragic legacy of
colonialism in one epic sweep.
Set in the West Indies in the period following World War II, The
Polished Hoe -- an Essence bestseller and a Washington Post Book
World Most Worthy Book of 2003 -- unravels over the course of
twenty-four hours but spans the collective experience of a society
characterized by slavery.