The Portugese Empire

I did not know much about the Portuguese empire, which is really a shame, considering how interested I am in other great empires in the world. The condition on the small islands of Sao Tomé and Principe was delicate to say the least during the late 19^th and early 20^th century. Slavery was abolished all over the world. Portugal together with the other great powers had signed treaties to that effect. Still it seemed as if slavery existed on these tiny islands in the Atlantic, why was otherwise so few people returning to their birth place in Angola.
In the Equator by Miguel Sousa Tavares, Luis Bernardes is sent out as the new governor to the islands, to convince the English that slavery did not exist, except he can't really lie about what he sees, can he?
The story is well researched and well balanced between fiction and fact and I felt I'd learnt something new when I finished the book.
Josefine

Title: Equator Author: Miguel Sousa Tavares ISBN: 978-0-7475-9662-2