The evils of experimentation on humans are painfully explored as Octavian pieces together exactly what his purpose is in the house of the rational philosophers. The philosophers carefully study Octavian and his beautiful young mother, who was once an African princess. Living comfortably, they are initially well-treated but gradually a more sinister purpose emerges and Octavian’s life disintegrates into degradation revealing the true nature of these 18th century philosopher’s attitudes to Negroes. Finely written, this is a fascinating and thought provoking insight into racism.
Various diaries, letters, and other manuscripts chronicle the experiences of Octavian, a young African American, from birth to age sixteen, as he is brought up as part of a science experiment in the years leading up to and during the Revolutionary War.
