num_pages: 480
description: When Mary-Mathilda, one of the most respected women of the island of Bimshire (also known as Barbados) calls the police to confess to a crime, the result is a shattering all-night vigil that brings together elements of the island's African past and the tragic legacy of colonialism in one epic sweep. Set in the West Indies in the period following World War II, The Polished Hoe -- an Essence bestseller and a Washington Post Book World Most Worthy Book of 2003 -- unravels over the course of twenty-four hours but spans the collective experience of a society characterized by slavery.
language: English
title: The Polished Hoe
titlecomplete: The Polished Hoe
genres: Historical, Mystery, Race, African American, Novels, Historical Fiction, Literature, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Canada
ratings_count: 1829
awards: awardedAt: 1009872000000
name: Scotiabank Giller Prize, awardedAt: 1072944000000
name: Hurston/Wright Legacy Award
category: Fiction, awardedAt: 1041408000000
name: Commonwealth Writers' Prize
category: Best Book Overall, awardedAt: 1041408000000
name: Trillium Book Award
publisher: Amistad