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Spanning the years 1873-1972 and set in the Pomeroon River District of Guyana, South America, this saga follows four generations of a family through the joys and sorrows of life. As a young boy, Vernon Atkins learns about his family’s history through the stories of Mrs. de Castro, who cares for him when his mother is in the hospital. Through the boy’s despair and worry, Mrs. de Castro distracts him with tales of the past, unraveling the ancestral ties that bind him to his ancestors. She regales him with accounts of weddings, births, and funerals, as well as adulterous affairs that bring tumult and confusion to the family lineage. Above all, her stories celebrate a family legacy and a deep connection to Pomeroon and the waterways that connect the community and eventually provide Vernon with his livelihood.
Immersive and transportive, this story evokes a family tree thriving in a unique place full of traditions and history. Mahase captures the spirit of Guyana with his lush descriptions and attention to detail as each generation lives and loves. Through the decades, the river bears witness, and the people become memory keepers. At times, hearts break, and at other times they soar. In between, life unfolds in the daily rituals of work and family. Mahase deftly portrays how present generations are connected to the past and impacted by the actions of ancestors in subtle and profound ways. The author also shows how inheritance comes in many forms. For example, we often think of money and land, but Mahase illustrates how people also inherit the choices of their ancestors and their stories. Vernon eventually adds his own story to the family epic, reinforcing the theme of familial continuity in this intriguing read.