Ti Marie

Ti Marie Valerie Belgrave iUniverse, Jan 2008, $18.95 ISBN: 9780595440429 By 1796 war seems to be island hopping across the Caribbean. So far Trinidad remains peaceful and quiet, but fears run deep that the hostilities will come here soon. Spaniard Don Diego de Las Flores owns Santa Clara cocoa plantation away from the thriving activities of thriving Santa Fe, but remains serene. He has two young children Jose and Juanita, but lost his wife just after she gave birth to their daughter to yellow fever. Yei the half breed medicine woman runs the household; she has two twin daughters, Carmen and Elena, sired by a white man. French political radical and expatriate Louis is the other member of the household as he tutors Jose. English abolitionist Barry Wingate arrives at Santa Clara; he falls in love with Elena, who enjoys the passion and idealism of her suitor. However, the French Revolution comes to Trinidad dividing the ruling plantation owners between hostile republican and royalist groups. While France struggles, England takes control of the island and imposes a harsh slave code that upsets the locals and leads to violence. TI MARIE is a fantastic look at Paradise Lost through a variety of characters representing the island's social strata during a period in which the goings on in France has swept its way into the Caribbean and now Trinidad. For instance, Elena and Barry love one another with a hope for the future together (if they can communicate their feelings), but once the English arrive, their dream looks hopeless as his family would never accept a mutt like her. There is much more going on than described above as Valerie Belgrave provides a vivid landscape of late eighteenth century Trinidad through Free Blacks, slaves plantation owners, Europeans, and mixed blood, etc. as open hostilities cause havoc on the most southern Caribbean island. Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (1/08) "Ti Marie" takes you into the late 1700s, into the lives of a family living on the island of Trinidad. Initially, living on the island was very rough and involved a lot of hardships, especially to the people who weren't originally from there. This was the case for Don Diego de las Flores and his family. He went to Trinidad to develop his Santa Clara cocoa estate. When he lost his wife, a mystical island woman, named Yei, stepped in and helped his family. Yei, also known as a healer, carried herself very regally. When she has twin daughters, one white, one black, the islanders believe that they are very powerful. Both daughters are beautiful, however, Elena, the black one, has a special beauty that makes her stand out. This attracts the attention of Barry Wingate, an English aristocrat, who is hiding out on the island while his family is having murder charges against him dropped. Barry and Elena fall for each other; however, due to his family obligations, he feels he is unable to act upon it. It would be unheard of for an Englishman of nobility to marry a black woman. He thinks that she would be miserable in England. There are also other relationships on the Santa Clara estate that need resolution and healing. Valerie Belgrave draws you into the heart of each one. Further upsetting the personal relationships, consequences of the war switch the power of the island over to a very cruel man. He has no sympathy towards the slaves and is so cruel to them, that he forces many to become violent and revolt. The people of Santa Clara do not share his sentiments, but in spite of this, they are also seriously affected by this man's actions. The lives of the free blacks are also affected. Seeing the cruelty that is inflicted on innocent people really helps Barry to grow up. Much has to be done to overcome the damage that this evil man has wrecked upon this peaceful place. "Ti Marie" is a beautiful story. It is also very heart-wrenching. If you are looking for a light, fluffy novel to read, this is not the one for you. I have to admit, that this story drew tears to my eyes, several times. Belgrave brings "Ti Marie" alive so that the people are real. She develops their characters and draws them close to your heart. The main characters have to endure great hardships, yet this also adds to their depth of character. I am really glad that I had a chance to read a novel of this quality. The lore of the people of Trinidad and the devastation caused by slavery are both infused throughout the story. I highly, highly recommend this novel to fans of quality historical fiction. Belgrave will not let you down.

Ti Marie is wonderfully written and provides great insight into the history of Trinidad and the colonial practice of slavery. In particular, it shows how cultural adaptations emerged under the different European social-political systems in the West Indies, this all cloaked in the story of two young lovers. With the ups and downs of their romance, Belgrave cleverly describes the multiracial and multicultural fabric that makes Trinidadian society special. She also shows us something of ourselves in each of her characters so that we might recognize the humanity that cultural heterogeneity brings. Clearly the outcome of the romance is fiction, particularly for those times, but might we not hope for a world where such love can flourish and where the possible children of such unions can be accepted and proud of who they are. Lastly, this novel gives us lots to think and talk about. It's perfect for book clubs. And, it would make a great romance movie!

One of the most critical dimensions of humanity is Agency. A person's ability to serve as a conduit through which universal intelligence and other sane qualities are expressed. Ti Marie's principle characters exemplify Agency on a multitude of levels. Their stories are ancestral/historical, and more than being contemporarily relevant, they are living - communicating "sensitive" and transformative life lessons. Ti Marie's author, Valerie Belgrave is an Artist of integrity, authentically communicating to the reader a complex narrative, skillfully collaged with a kaleidoscope of characters expressing the full spectrum of individuality from dignity to insanity. Valerie composed Ti Marie, as she does her batik, with an incredible sensitivity to the richness of color, light, fire, passion, limitations/boundaries and beauty. In so doing Ti Mary (Little Mary) honors, yet transcends the ordinary and spatial to embody in my opinion, a great elemental sacredness - on par in quality, but not quantity (hence - little) with that devotion and tutelage (Mary) that births the warrior spirit, the Christ - in us all.

Ti Marie is one of the best ways of tracing and understanding the unique history of Trinidad and the Caribbean. Belgrave achieves this feat by weaving a gentle tale of love and loss against the backdrop of a powerful historical story. This novel is "un-put-down-able". From the first page of Ti Marie, one is drawn into the lives of the characters, each with his or her own unique strengths and challenges in a society that is changing and difficult. The reader is offered an opportunity to empathize with the varied backgrounds, struggles, and triumphs of Elena, Barry, Fist and Tessa, among others. Belgrave does not set out to comment on race, class, or power but the reader who is sensitive to these concepts in the colonial history of the Black World will find these concepts deeply embedded in the beautiful story of Ti Marie. Scholars of history, political science, Caribbean Studies, literature, and humanities will find this book very valuable. The extensive Afterword in this new edition is priceless and gives readers access to Belgrave's intentions and her process of writing this book.