The Tide Between Us: a story of the Irish-Caribbean slavery and emancipation

The Tide Between Us by Olive Collins is an epic story of Irish-Caribbean slavery and emancipation. The story opens in Ireland, 1991 and a skeleton has been found when a violent storm uprooted a tree. The story goes back in time to 1821 when 10-year-old Irish body, Art O’Neil, is deported to the British Caribbean colony of Jamaica as an indentured servant. He is among the thousands of Irish were sent from their homeland to the colony. Art gradually acclimates to the exotic country, the customs of the African slaves as he builds a life there. When the new heirs arrive at the plantation, old ghosts are resurrected for Art of the brutal injustices he and his family suffered back in Ireland, he plots his revenge. He bides his time and hides his loathing from his new master. As he works, he prospers and buys land and he works with the promise of a gold coin for every decade of service. One day he sets out to claim his coins, he has a feeling that he may not return home alive. Then the story fast forwards to Ireland, 1991, as Yseult, the owner of Lugdale Estate, must deal with the skeleton discovery as well as the news that a gold coin, minted in 1870, was found with it. As she watches the events unfold, she must face the long-buried secrets of her family’s past. How long can she hide before the past forces her to face it? 

The Tide Between Us is truly an epic story of a little known history of the Irish indentured servants in Jamaica. Ms. Collins was inspired by the real events of 2,000 Irish children deported to Jamaica and the statistic that 25% of Jamaican citizens claim Irish ancestry. Separated in two parts, the story takes the reader deep into the slave trade and the day to day life on a plantation and two families who are connected through history, blood and circumstances. It is a very powerful story which brings to life historical events that have been hidden. It is also about the resilience of the human spirit as one fights against his or her circumstances to build a better life for their descendants. For me, Part 1 was far more engaging and interesting than Part 2. While heartbreaking to read the appalling treatment and conditions the slaves had to endure, I was glad that Ms. Collins didn’t shy away from the very real facts. Unfortunately, Part 2 introduced Yseult who is 81 and as cranky and grumpy as an older woman can get. She was a hard character to like and sympathize with. By the end, the reader discovers the reasons for her attitude, it didn’t make her likeable or sympathetic. Overall, I enjoyed The Tide Between Us and highly recommend it. One piece of advice, it is a thick book, about 560 pages, it will take time to read it and you will have to take your time to truly appreciate the depth of the story. 

The Tide Between Us is available in paperback and eBook.