The Freedom of the Soul

Tracey Bateman
Sunstone Press (2006)
ISBN 1597892211
Reviewed by Stephanie Rollins for Reader Views (10/06)

Tracey Bateman’s “The Freedom of the Soul” starts out with Shea’s father dying.  She lives in a shack with him.  She agrees to sell the property to an adjacent land-owner after her father’s death.  As she is packing the belongings in the attic, she finds diaries that belong to a relative of many generations ago.  In these diaries, she finds information that leads her to believe that she is of African American heritage.  This is quite alarming, since she lives in the 1940’s, and she is already of a family with a questionable reputation. 

Shea leaves the shack and travels to the estate that she figures is hers if she is correct about being of the African American bloodline.  She travels to Georgia where racial inequality is still intact.  It amazes Shea, who is from the North, that blacks have different hospitals.  It amazes Shea that a black man cannot even lay on a white man’s cot.  The way some of the slave owners treat the slaves is horrible. 

To make the slave owners understand the importance of treating the leased slaves well, they often have to be reminded that they should treat all leased possessions well.  “’I’ve half a mind to spread the word to the rest of the county not to lease slaves to you if they value their property at all.’”

As she discover’s Georgia and the estate, she proceeds to read from the journals.  It is there that she learns of the love between Mac, the son of a wealthy slave owner, and Celeste, a slave.  Mac is in her bloodline. 

Will he marry the slave girl?  Will he marry the wealthy white girl who loves him?  His father will disinherit him if he marries the slave girl.  He may be killed by the Klan if he makes his love for the slave girl known. 

The wealthy white girl has given him permission to have an affair with the slave girl even if he marries her.  “You listen to me, Mac Penbrook.  I mean to marry you.  I am not opposed to your dalliance with this slave girl as long as you use discretion and do not claim any children born of the union.”  Will a clandestine sexual relationship with the slave girl be enough for him?

The story is a quick, enjoyable read.  Interesting facts about the old south are woven into the story.  For a great romantic escape, “The Freedom of the Soul” is a great choice.

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