Hottentot Venus

Written by Barbara Chase-Riboud

Narrated by Robin Miles

Barbara Chase-Riboud is an award-winning poet, novelist, scholar, and sculptor. Hottentot Venus, a 2004 BCALA Literary Award winner, focuses on Sarah Blaartman, an African tribewoman who, because of her prominent sexual characteristics, was paraded as a freak before audiences in England and Paris. This mesmerizing novel reflects the racism and cruelty of turn-of-the-century Eurocentric culture, but it also reveals Sarah's remarkable strength of spirit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 28, 2009
• ISBN: 9781440760679

Barbara Chase-Riboud

Barbara Chase-Riboud is the bestselling author one biography and six historical novels, including the internationally celebrated Sally Hemings. A distinguished poet who has published three collections, she won the Carl Sandburg Poetry Prize for Best American Poet for her second collection, Portrait of a Nude Women as Cleopatra, and her first collection, Memphis & Peking was edited by Toni Morrison and released to critical acclaim. She is also a celebrated artist, and the recipient of many fellowships and prizes. She was the first African American graduate of the School of Design and Architecture at Yale University in 1960, and received a knighthood in Arts and Letters from the French government in 1996. She lives in Paris, Rome, and New York.

Reviews for Hottentot Venus

[june6bug · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Based on the true story of Saartje Bartman, a South African woman who was brought to Europe and displayed in freak shows for the amusement of the crowds. Imaginative - the author brings Saartje's sad story to life.

[arubabookwoman · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a fictionalized account of the life of Sarah Baartman, the so-called Hottentot Venus. Sarah was born into the Khoekhoe people of South Africa, who were misnamed 'Hottentot' due to the sounds of their language by the Boer and English settlers.In the Khoekhoe culture, steatopygia, or collection of fat on the buttocks of females, is highly desireable. Various techniques are used to encourage the swelling of the buttocks from the curve of the spine--12 inches or more.Sarah was brought to Europe at about the age of 20 and was exhibited as a freak of nature, or as a sub-species between human and ape, for about 5 years, between 1810 and 1815, when she died. After her death, she was dissected. Her brain and sexual organs were removed and put on display, along with her skeleton and a cast made of her body. These remained on display in France until the early 1970's. In 2002, her skeleton and body parts were returned to South Africa where she is now buried.This book vividly recreates Sarah's life, and psyche. Her pain and heartbreak are real; her conflicted emotions are well-portrayed (Sarah resisted efforts to 'rescue' her).The only reason I am not rating the book higher is that I have problems with the author's style and manner of presentation of Sarah's story. For example, a large part of the story is told in the first person by Sarah. However, significant portions are narrated by one or the other of Sarah's 'keepers.' In those sections of the novel, the plot awkwardly requires the 'keeper' to overhear conversations between Sarah and her confidante such as 'If we try to get away now, where will we go and what will we do for money?' Using the 'keepers' as narrators also requires them to be uncharacteristically self-aware. For example, Dunlop, her original exploiter, describes himself as not recognizing 'moral or physical limits,' as being 'blase,' 'cruel,' 'bored.' In my view, the novel would have been better if narrated solely from Sarah's point of view.The writer also sometimes uses language that abruptly yanked me from my immersion in the historical period and in Sarah's life, as when her keeper says to Sarah, 'You give me any more lip and I'll smash you one.' There are many other examples of clumsy writing that kept me from living totally in Sarah's world.Because the subject matter is so important, and for the most part Sarah's character rings true, I can still recommend this book.

[eenerd · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Poignant, disturbing, heart-wrenching novel based upon the real life of Saartjie Baartman, an 18th century South African woman who was displayed in the London freak show circuit as the "Hottentot Venus". Beautiful writing and compelling voices lead us through Saartijie's sad life during the Boer War, Dutch colonialism, Brititsh colonialism, and London after the *official* end of legalized slavery.

[countrymouse_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Disturbing true tale of a time in history where it was perfectly acceptable to exploit a person publicly for money. Very well written, sympathetic and eye opening.