Island Beneath the Sea

By: Isabel Allende

Narrated by: S. Epatha Merkerson

Length: 17 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

From the sugar plantations of Saint-Domingue to the lavish parlors of New Orleans at the turn of the 19th century, Isabel Allende's latest novel tells the story of a mulatta woman, a slave and concubine, determined to take control of her own destiny in a society where that would seem impossible.

Born a slave on the island of Saint-Domingue, Zarité - known as Tété - is the daughter of an African mother she never knew and one of the white sailors who brought her into bondage. Though her childhood is one of brutality and fear, Tété finds solace in the traditional rhythms of African drums and the voodoo loas she discovers through her fellow slaves.

When twenty-year-old Toulouse Valmorain arrives on the island in 1770, it's with powdered wigs in his trunks and dreams of financial success in his mind. But running his father's plantation, Saint Lazare, is neither glamorous nor easy.

Against the merciless backdrop of sugar cane fields, the lives of Tété and Valmorain grow ever more intertwined. When the bloody revolution of Toussaint Louverture arrives at the gates of Saint Lazare, they flee the island that will become Haiti for the decadence and opportunity of New Orleans. There, Tété finally forges a new life - but her connection to Valmorain is deeper than anyone knows and not so easily severed.

Spanning four decades, Island Beneath the Sea is the moving story of one woman's determination to find love amid loss, to offer humanity though her own has been so battered, and to forge her own identity in the cruellest of circumstances.

©2010 HarperCollins Publishers (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"In a many-faceted plot, Allende animates irresistible characters authentic in their emotional turmoil and pragmatic adaptability. She also captures the racial, sexual, and entrepreneurial dynamics of each society in sensuous detail while masterfully dramatizing the psychic wounds of slavery. Sexually explicit, Allende is grace incarnate in her evocations of the spiritual energy that still sustains the beleaguered people of Haiti and New Orleans." (Booklist)

Poor performance

The reader of this novel was an inappropriate choice - her pronunciation of the French which fills this novel, was atrocious and her tone of voice was usually, either depressingly soppy, or annoyingly monotonous. If you could give a minus result for performance I would. I found it very difficult to forget the reader and lose myself in the story. It was only the power of Allende's writing which stopped me consigning this to the bin.

Captures at once

What did you love best about Island Beneath the Sea?

The story is quite different from those books I've read. Though it is interesting and captive. I enjoyed it a lot.

What about S. Epatha Merkerson’s performance did you like?

The narrator was ok, however sometimes it was difficult to understand where the chapter ends because of the intonation.

Great historical fiction

This is the story of a slave from San Domingue, now known as Haiti. Tete's story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. she has known the terrible life of a slave but also the love if family and friends. i found the historical evolution of the slave situation and rebellion on the island fascinating as well as the life journey of all the people in Tete's life, including her slave master. This is a great family saga for lover's of historical fiction set in the Caribbean and Southern USA.

Allende visits the Caribbean music to your ears

Would you listen to Island Beneath the Sea again? Why?

Probably not I rarely read books twice.

Have you listened to any of S. Epatha Merkerson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

She did a fabulous job to bring Allende's characters to life I hope to hear her again.

Any additional comments?

Why aren't there more Allende books available on Audible? Also loved the Latin accent of the narrator so suited the book.

Don’t miss this one

An extremely poignant story which moves along at a fast pace. As Allende weaves the story she has Te Te retell it from her perspective. A beautiful story of resilience, love and hope. Don’t miss this one!