The Guyana Classics Library Text: Petamber Persaud
H
earing Slaves Speak’ by Trevor Burnard was launched in 2011, heralding The Year for People of African Descent, Guyana’s bequest to the world on the subject of enslaved people. The book contains first hand accounts of complaints by enslaved Africans in the county of Berbice, Guyana. Previous to the ending of the Atlantic slave trade which was a softening of the tribulations of enslaved people that eventually led to abolition of slavery, the enslaved people had no voice as they were viewed and treated as chattel. So this publication fills that gap in information. ‘Hearing Slaves Speak’ is one of a projected thirty six titles befitting the inclusion in The Guyana Classics Library Series. The Guyana Classics Library Series was initiated by the Government of Guyana to reprint rare and out-of-print books via the newly established The Caribbean Press. The idea of The Caribbean Press surfaced during Guyana’s hosting of the highly successful Carifesta X in 2008. The idea was later fleshed out by President Bharrat Jagdeo and Professor David Dabydeen. The idea is now manifested in the printing of twenty of the projected target of thirty six titles. The twenty books reprinted in the twenty months since the press was established include ‘The Discovery of Guiana’ by Sir Walter Ralegh first published in 1595, ‘The Coolie, his right and wrongs’ by John Edward Jenkins, ‘Canoe and Camp Life in British Guiana’ by Charles Barrington Brown, ‘The Chinese in British Guiana’ by Sir Cecil Clementi, ‘The Asylum Journal’ by Robert Grieve, ‘Guianese Poetry: covering the hundred years’ period, 1831-1931’ by N. E. Cameron and a novel, ‘The Shadow Bride’ by Roy Heath, ‘The Demerara Martyr’ by Edwin Angel Wallbridge, ‘Indian Notices’ by William Hilhouse, ‘The Portuguese of Guyana’ by Sister Menezes, a collection of poems, ‘Mercy Ward’, by Ian McDonald and a novel, ‘The Intended’ by David Dabydeen. Each title comes with a series preface and its own scholarly introduction written by a panel of international academics. The introduction of the first book on Guyana, ‘The
24 | GEM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2011