There are many versions to Jamaica's legend of Lover's Leap. The most popular ones say two slaves were in love secretly and when their relationship was made public the consequences were deadly. According to another, the daughter of a plantation owner was in love with a slave and yet another says a plantation owner was in love with one of his slaves.
No matter the version, nothing can stop the intrigue and poignancy of this fascinating legend. Award-winning Jamaican author (Canadian based) Horane Smith's internationally-acclaimed novel Lover's Leap: Based on the Jamaican Legend (www.horanesmith.com) skillfully combines the most popular versions of the legend into one grand nail-biting experience that will have you turning the pages quicker than you think. Read it to prove it!
The story of Lover's Leap can never die. In fact, the novel proves that a legend has come alive!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Lover's Leap - the saga continues
In 1830's Jamaica, sugar was already king. England, the colonial master, was creating a great deal of wealth through her colonies, especially in the largest English-speaking island in the Caribbean - Jamaica.
In order to maintain the profitability of sugar, the cane plantations had to be worked. Sugar cane called for intensive labour and the exploitive system known as slavery, was the engine used to provide that need. Along with the system of slavery came all the ills, abuse, and curtailment of freedoms. Slaves lived with the nightmare with the hope that one day soon this viscious system would end. This gave rise to the abolitionist movement both inside and outside of the Caribbean. Names like William Wilberforce, an Englishman, readily comes to mind. In Jamaica, Paul Bogle, George William Gordon, and Sam Sharpe were the early freedom fighters.
As those men allowed their voices to be heard about the inhumane system, slaves had to contend with the rules and regulations. They were merely a piece of property. They could not own property because they themselves were property. They could have children, but the children didn't belong to them. Children became the property of their slavemasters, a part of their wealth because they could be sold to another for money. Slaves had financial value.
Slaves were not free to love another. Love was forbidden. If they fell in love, it was forbidden love. On the southcoat of Jamaica, in the parish of St. Elizabeth, at a village known then as Big Yard/Yardley Chase, two slaves fell in love - forbidden! How could this love survive the plantation system? Lover's Leap: Based on the Jamaican Legend by Horane Smith answers that question.
Stay tuned as the nail-biting saga continues.
In order to maintain the profitability of sugar, the cane plantations had to be worked. Sugar cane called for intensive labour and the exploitive system known as slavery, was the engine used to provide that need. Along with the system of slavery came all the ills, abuse, and curtailment of freedoms. Slaves lived with the nightmare with the hope that one day soon this viscious system would end. This gave rise to the abolitionist movement both inside and outside of the Caribbean. Names like William Wilberforce, an Englishman, readily comes to mind. In Jamaica, Paul Bogle, George William Gordon, and Sam Sharpe were the early freedom fighters.
As those men allowed their voices to be heard about the inhumane system, slaves had to contend with the rules and regulations. They were merely a piece of property. They could not own property because they themselves were property. They could have children, but the children didn't belong to them. Children became the property of their slavemasters, a part of their wealth because they could be sold to another for money. Slaves had financial value.
Slaves were not free to love another. Love was forbidden. If they fell in love, it was forbidden love. On the southcoat of Jamaica, in the parish of St. Elizabeth, at a village known then as Big Yard/Yardley Chase, two slaves fell in love - forbidden! How could this love survive the plantation system? Lover's Leap: Based on the Jamaican Legend by Horane Smith answers that question.
Stay tuned as the nail-biting saga continues.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Jamaica's Lover's Leap
Many people have asked whether the legend of Jamaica's Lover's Leap is indeed true. There are many versions of the legend; some seem real, while others can easily be passed as myth. Nevertheles, regardless of what you may believe, there's no denying that this tale is one of intrique and your interest will be heightened from the moment you begin to read Jamaican author Horane Smith's Lover's Leap: Based on the Jamaican Legend (www.horanesmith.com), the only written novel on the poignant story set in 1830's Jamaica when sugar was king and slavery was god, master and ruler. When forbidden love dared to push its head into the open either to be chastised or to challenge the status quo. The 1700 ft. cliff that overlooked the Caribbean Sea, popularly known then as Lookout, would be of significance in years to come - to this very day!
More to come.
More to come.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Lover's Leap - it will leave you breathless
There are many places around the globe with the name Lover's Leap, but there's one that beats them all. This one will leave you breathless, not dead, just breathless. You'll hear more about this breathtaking site that soars to 1700 ft. and overlooks the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. It's tucked away on the southcoast of the island of Jamaica. In the coming days, you'll hear more about the legendary Lover's Leap, the title of Jamaican author (Canadian- based) Horane's Smith's first novel Lover's Leap: Based on the Jamaican Legend.
This novel has been a hit since the day it came to bookshelves because of the intrique, gripping and poignant tale that has touched so many people from all races and cultures.
"Propelling...vividly defined...written with scrupulousness, Horane Smith deliver's," says one reviewer.
"I read it with great admiration," says a British best-selling author.
"A delightful book, written in a gripping style that makes it difficult to put down," says one of Jamaica's leading reviewers.
"An engaging fictional account," says a Canadian reviewer.
"Horane Smith is no ordinary novelist," says a major Canadian newspaper.
"Enough suspense to make the reader anxious to turn the page," says an American-Canadian reviewer.
"You'll want to finish it once you have started," says a leading Jamaican reviewer.
The reviews speak for themselves. Indeed, this legend is not dead; it has been brought back to life. For more details visit www.horanesmith.com.
If there's anyone who might have visited Lover's Leap, I'd be happy to get your comments.
This novel has been a hit since the day it came to bookshelves because of the intrique, gripping and poignant tale that has touched so many people from all races and cultures.
"Propelling...vividly defined...written with scrupulousness, Horane Smith deliver's," says one reviewer.
"I read it with great admiration," says a British best-selling author.
"A delightful book, written in a gripping style that makes it difficult to put down," says one of Jamaica's leading reviewers.
"An engaging fictional account," says a Canadian reviewer.
"Horane Smith is no ordinary novelist," says a major Canadian newspaper.
"Enough suspense to make the reader anxious to turn the page," says an American-Canadian reviewer.
"You'll want to finish it once you have started," says a leading Jamaican reviewer.
The reviews speak for themselves. Indeed, this legend is not dead; it has been brought back to life. For more details visit www.horanesmith.com.
If there's anyone who might have visited Lover's Leap, I'd be happy to get your comments.
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