Summary
‘The Poisonwood Bible’ by Barbara Kingsolver is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that follows a family of missionaries who move from Georgia, USA to the Belgian Congo in the late 1950s.
Book Genre
Fiction, historical fiction, drama
Main Topic
Colonialism, cultural imperialism, religion, family dynamics, nature vs. nurture
Key Ideas
- The harmful effects of Western imperialism and colonialism on African countries and their people
- The clash of cultures and ideologies between Westerners and Africans
- The impact of religion and belief systems on individuals and societies
- The complexities of family relationships and dynamics
- The power and resilience of nature
Main Parts of the Book (and a short summary)
- Book One: ‘Genesis’ – Introduces the Price family and their decision to become missionaries, their arrival in the Congo and their struggles to adapt to the new culture and environment.
- Book Two: ‘The Revelation’ – Shifts the narrative to the perspectives of the four daughters of the family, each with their own unique experiences and struggles in the Congo, while also exploring the escalating political tensions and violence in the country.
- Book Three: ‘The Judges’ – The family is forced to flee to a village where they face different challenges and eventually fall apart due to conflicts and tragedies.
- Book Four: ‘Bel and the Serpent’ – The two youngest daughters, Adah and Ruth May, are left behind in the Congo and must fend for themselves while their family deals with the aftermath of their father’s actions.
- Book Five: ‘Exodus’ – Takes place several years later when the family reunites back in the United States, each dealing with their own scars and struggles from their time in the Congo.
Key Takeaways
- The significance of cultural understanding and respect in a society already dealing with the consequences of colonization
- The power dynamics within a family and the impact of familial relationships on individual growth and development
- The consequences of imposing one’s beliefs and ideologies on others
- The resilience and interconnectedness of nature even in the face of destruction and exploitation by humans
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Barbara Kingsolver is an American novelist, essayist, and poet known for her thought-provoking and socially conscious works. She has a degree in biology and worked as a science writer before turning to fiction writing. Kingsolver has won several awards for her writing, including the Orange Prize for Fiction and the National Humanities Medal.
Target Audience
The book is aimed at readers who are interested in historical fiction, social and cultural issues, and family dynamics. It may also appeal to those interested in postcolonial literature and the experiences of missionaries in African countries.
Publisher and First Publication Date
‘The Poisonwood Bible’ was published by HarperCollins in 1998.