{"product_id":"near-a-plantation-free-villages-of-barbados-1840-1945","title":"Near a Plantation: Free Villages of Barbados, 1840-1945","description":"In \u003ci\u003eNear a Plantation\u003c\/i\u003e, Woodville Marshall\u003cbr\u003epresents a transformative account of post-slavery Barbados. Through meticulous\u003cbr\u003eexamination of wills and deeds, Marshall challenges established assumptions, \u003cbr\u003edelving deep into the complex dynamics that influenced the lives of former\u003cbr\u003eslaves. His exploration offers a comprehensive perspective that reshapes our\u003cbr\u003eunderstanding of how free villages came to be in Barbados. \u003cbr\u003eMarshall's\u003cbr\u003ecareful examination reveals the hurdles faced by the formerly enslaved in\u003cbr\u003eobtaining land. Plantation owners monopolized land and controlled labour, \u003cbr\u003eleaving little opportunity for others. Despite this, some ex-slaves found ways\u003cbr\u003eto secure land through negotiation or purchasing from speculators. As the story\u003cbr\u003eprogresses, we learn about the beginnings of free villages, where land\u003cbr\u003especulators and negotiations with former masters played pivotal roles.\u003cbr\u003eAgainst the\u003cbr\u003ebackdrop of economic downturns and shifting social landscapes, Marshall charts\u003cbr\u003ethe rapid expansion of free villages, driven by newfound opportunities for land\u003cbr\u003eownership and the influx of remittances. This narrative culminates in the\u003cbr\u003etransformative impact of free villages on the economic and socio-political\u003cbr\u003edynamics in Barbados and how it fostered avenues for social mobility and\u003cbr\u003econtributed to the modernization of Barbadian society.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eNear a\u003cbr\u003ePlantation\u003c\/i\u003e not only fills a critical gap in\u003cbr\u003epost-slavery literature but also prompts a fundamental reassessment of\u003cbr\u003ehistorical narratives surrounding emancipation in Barbados. Marshall's\u003cbr\u003emethodological approach, seamlessly weaving archival insights into a compelling\u003cbr\u003enarrative, offers invaluable perspectives for scholars, students and\u003cbr\u003eenthusiasts of Caribbean history alike.","brand":"University of the West Indies Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47135153946676,"sku":"9789766409616","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0699\/8638\/5972\/files\/imageloader_257f8a7b-fb5e-4751-8bf4-22db598d7024.jpg?v=1759069631","url":"https:\/\/worldcaribbeanbooks.com\/products\/near-a-plantation-free-villages-of-barbados-1840-1945","provider":"World Caribbean Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}