review 1: Philidia was a book designed to show the pain a slave went through everyday, and it did a good job in exemplifying the flaws in the system of 1832 South Africa, only a year before the abolishment of slavery. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to someone who enjoys books that follow historical events, truly depict the horrors of the past. I gave this book a 4/5 because I was encapsulated in the story and couldn't help myself from reading all of it in one night. review 2: A powerful and memorable story of one woman's desire to be free -- both in the eyes of the law and in her own mind. Set in South Africa in the year leading up to emancipation, Brink's story transports us into Philida's world, with its harsh and beautiful physical details and its vibrati... moreng human emotions. I picked this up on a whim at the public library, but I will definitely be seeking out more works by Andre Brink! less
