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Title: Vivid Descriptions!
Review: Charles Johnson's Middle Passage is a masterpiece by all definitions. This story of a former slave who accidentally ends up on a slave ship is well woven and is full of gripping descriptions of the horrid conditions of life on a slave ship. All of Johnson's characters, despite their stereotypical air, come across as three dimensional humans, as opposed to hard-nosed sailors. However, one of this novels biggest draws, is also one of it's biggest shortcomings. Johnson's eloquence and amazing grasp of the English language entices readers with sights, sounds and smells, but they seem a bit much for the character of Rutherford Calhoun, a former slave and professional thief. Perhaps he would have been more believeable in third-person, speaking in New Orleans vernacular as opposed to the King's English. Similarly, Johnson's Calvinoesque use of allusions is a little confusing, but gets the point across. Definitely a must read!
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