Book: Sacred Hunger

"Sacred Hunger" by Barry Unsworth is a sweeping historical epic that delves into the dark and complex world of the 18th-century Atlantic slave trade. At its heart is the ill-fated journey of the Liverpool Merchant, a slave ship commanded by Captain Saul Thurso and financed by William Kemp. Kemp is a London merchant whose fortunes are precariously tied to this merciless trade. As the ship sets sail, tensions simmer among the crew, fueled by the brutal realities of their mission and the moral conflicts it ignites. Meanwhile, Kemp's cousin, Erasmus, finds himself embroiled in a personal vendetta that further entwines with the fate of the ship. Unsworth masterfully explores themes of greed, power, and inhumanity, portraying the deep psychological and societal costs of this profit-driven enterprise. Through vivid, evocative prose, he paints a haunting picture of the era, weaving a tapestry of disparate lives forever altered by the sacred hunger for wealth and dominance. As events spiral toward tragedy and rebellion, readers are left to grapple with the staggering consequences of exploitation and the enduring human capacity for both cruelty and compassion.