Eliza: From Slave to Plantation Mistress

By Rick Fucini

In a world echoing the ancient tales Ovid’s Metamorphoses, a tale unfolds of Perseus and Andromeda – an interracial love story written in the stars. This ancient narrative finds a haunting parallel in the turbulent times of the American South. When Michael, a man of privilege and power, comes across Eliza, a beautiful soul bound in the chains of slavery, their worlds collide in an unexpected twist of fate. Just as Perseus once freed Andromeda, Michael is determined to liberate Eliza from her cruel circumstances.

As they venture through trials and tribulations, their bond deepens, leading them on a path neither could have imagined. From the depths of bondage, Eliza rises to become a force to reckon with, challenging the very fabric of a society that once held her captive. Eliza: From Slave to Plantation Mistress is a riveting tale of love, sacrifice, and transformation set against the backdrop of a world divided. Love, it proves, transcends boundaries, reshaping destinies and redefining power structures.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Nov 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9798889104216

Rick Fucini

I retired from NY State Attorney General Office. I have an MA from the University of Michigan in Art History. For 21/2 years on taught Art History at a College.

Book preview

About the Author

I retired from NY State Attorney General Office. I have an MA from the University of Michigan in Art History. For 21/2 years on taught Art History at a College.

Dedication

My wife, Janice

Copyright Information ©

Rick Fucini 2023

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Ordering Information

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Publisher’s Cataloguing-in-Publication data

Fucini, Rick

Eliza: From Slave to Plantation Mistress

ISBN 9798889104209 (Paperback)

ISBN 9798889104216 (ePub e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023916097

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street, 33rd Floor, Suite 3302

New York, NY 10005

USA

[e-mail]

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Acknowledgment

The classic Roman poet Ovid.

Foreword

A significant influence on my novel was the classical Roman poet, Ovid’s Metamorphosis, the story of Perseus rescuing Andromeda. Like Perseus, the protagonists in my novel, whose strongest desires are confronted by unjust, external obstacles. Metamorphosis is composed of classical myths; however, myths reveal wisdom on human nature.

Resembling Perseus and Andromeda, the protagonists liberated themselves form the chains that shackled their minds and became free from worrying while joyfully embracing victory.

As Perseus proved, which the protagonists (Eliza and Michael) emulated, to be patient and persistent, because your pain will be very helpful. Ovid stated: Omnia mutantur, nihil interit (everything changes, nothing perishes).

Confidently retaining their values and philosophy they would be led mysteriously to new horizons. Ovid’s thesis is that for real love to thrive, it must be tested as one proceeds through the pitfalls and obstacles in life. Eliza and Michael’s love was tested by the fires of injustice and prejudice that culminated into a beautiful relationship.

Ovid’s Metamorphosis had inspired diverse art forms throughout the centuries. For example, Shakespeare, Titian and Mozart. The Metamorphosis was written in verse. It’s poetry that gives pleasure then gives truth to hidden complex imagery and philosophy. My novel is not written in verse. Since I have a background in the visual arts, many scenes in the novel the emphasis is on the visual atmosphere where the action takes place.

It accentuates the emotions of the characters. The aim is for the visual ambience to expose hidden meanings that unlock a deeper understanding of historical and cultural context of the novel. By enhancing the visual tenor, I endeavored to create a framework of representation that emphasized that authentic romance is possible.

In many respects, I create artistic portrayals of the scene which evokes emotions and multi-sensory experience. It highlights the emotions of the characters. I regard my novel as a romantic story. The story we read enables our mind to make cognitive and emotional connections that shape our perspective of the world. The story can be used to explain and illustrate abstract ideas or concepts in a way that makes them accessible and attainable.

A story was used since time immemorial. Various religions implemented stories to support their system of beliefs. Children demand bedtime stories. The dynamics of stories sustain the existence of a culture. Since Eliza and Michael were historically an actual couple, it confers vitally within the story.

The couple embraced the mystery of their personhood and the circumstances of their lives. Mystery is not necessarily an unknowable or a foreboding feature in life. Mystery is an integral part of life that must be accepted as sustenance for the human spirit. It’s through works of art that integrates the human spirit to better understand the piercing mysteries of life. In Chinese art the ch’i is the spirit

in nature which is the force that flows through an individual by forms and formless energy throughout the universe. The artist endeavors to create a meaningful coherence between life and spiritual forces of the universe.

The couple embraced the enveloping mysteries that enable to perceive the beauty of order in their lives that sustained their romance. His initial attraction has spiraled into a determination to gain Eliza’s acceptance. Eliza confronted the challenges to open her heart to accept Michael’s love.

I planted the heroine and hero within the context of a story that should enable the reader to empathize with their struggles, emotions and achievements. The objective of this story is to demonstrate that a thriving, real love is possible.

Rick Fucini

February 2023

Chapter 1

Macon, Georgia

A Slave Auction

It’s a sunny morning in Macon, Georgia (1831) at a slave auction. Despite the sunny day at 93 degrees, the atmosphere is enveloped in a dusty haze. There are group of slaves on an auction platform. Eliza is on the periphery of the group. She is dressed in a white, smock type of dress. Despite the circumstance, her beauty is obvious. However, at this time, the focus is not yet on her.

Throughout history, there are unfortunate events where the governing authorities permitted and promoted exploitation of human beings for the purpose of profits or mere entertainment. Today, knowing about gladiators killing one another in an arena, horrifies us. We can’t imagine being entertained by humans killing each other or wild animals.

We, now, know that enslaving people who suffered a cruel bondage, it’s incomprehensible that a civilized nation could sanction this cruelty. At one time, women were abducted and forced into harems. History is scarred by incidences of humans being unjustly exploited and suffering unspeakably brutalities.

Avoid elaborating on historical details, but the ardent struggle to combat these injustices generated advancements in both technology and authentic application of justice. Eliza’s progress in developing her character and her unshakable courage demonstrates that crushing injustices can be defeated. It’s inspirational.

The slaves have a sorrowing look of fatalism. The slaves are exposed to a merciless sun that provides light on the product for the prospective buyers. The individual faces of the slaves reveal they are stoically expressing hopelessness. There is a crowd of people, who are partially shaded by a large magnolia tree, waiting for the auctioneer to commence the auction.

Many of the genteel ladies are fanning themselves with hand held fans. The individuals in the crowd are laughing while entertaining themselves with each other’s stories. They are indifferent to the plight of the slaves on the auction platform. Their attitude express that the event is for the purchasing of property.

The crowd should be described as afflicted with diseased minds, because they are indifferent to the slaves who are treated inhumanly and they are being unjustly exploited for the enrichment of the privilege. Eventually their pride, heartlessness and active proponents of injustices will generate their destruction. They are oblivious their actions are sowing the seeds of their destruction a certainty.

Michael Healy, an Irish emigrant, is at the auction in order to purchase slaves for his newly acquired planation. Michael acquired the plantation through a public lottery event. His uncle Tim and his cousin Steve accompany Michael. All of them are Irish emigrants.

Michael is in his mid-twenties. He is handsome and about six feet tall. Tim, in his late 50’s, speaks with a distinct Irish brogue. Tim placed his hand on Michael’s shoulder while saying Be cautious in bidding my lad. You have no experience with this sort thing. Keep your eyes open. These people are full tricks. You could be manipulated into an over-bidding trap.

Michael responded I am confident in my abilities to succeed. Failure is not part of my vocabulary. I have sanguine expectations that everything will work-out in my favor.

The auctioneer appears on the platform. He is an uncouth, scruffy person. He conveys the type of individual who is involved in the exploitive, degrading transactions of selling human beings as if they were merchandise. The crowd is devoid of empathy for the slaves. Apparently they don’t regard them as fellow human beings with feelings who have emotional needs that could sustain their existence. It’s an example of man’s inhumanity to man. Perhaps a grave flaw within the human species is an intransigence to be charitable to fellow travelers.

The inordinate love money and profits made them unmindful to the inhumanity of slavery. Money could have a hypnotic grip on the individual then it becomes the prime objective in life which eventually engenders suffering. The prioritization of money above any other objective engender tracks of tragedy throughout history. Michael is cognizant of the debilitating defects entrenched in the human heart.

When Michael first noticed Eliza, he recognized her as a beautiful woman ensnared in a degrading situation. He immediately had an outpouring of sympathy for her. He was beguiled by her. He was debating within self by offering his love she would be liberated?

History attests to many tragedies. Michael is stalwart in his determination to overtake all the evils obstructing his quest to gain Eliza. He believes that altruistic love is the essence of life and the means to transcend the tribulations of the world in order to secure a fulfilling romance. He is ready to struggle with the travails of his environment to acquire intimacy with Eliza.

Auctioneer addressing the crowd, "I trust