Description
Hardcover is worn and fraying. No dust jacket. Pages are clean and binding is secure.
This well-loved copy of “The Cross on the Drum” by Hugh B. Cave offers a fascinating glimpse into the clash of cultures and beliefs in the Caribbean during the mid-20th century. Published in 1957, the novel follows a young Christian missionary as he navigates the vibrant and often misunderstood world of Vodou in Haiti. Cave, a prolific writer of supernatural and horror fiction, brings his talent for suspenseful storytelling to this thought-provoking tale.
Despite its worn exterior, this hardcover edition remains a compelling artifact of its era, when Western missionaries sought to spread Christianity in regions with deeply-rooted indigenous spiritual traditions. The novel’s depiction of Vodou, while influenced by common misconceptions of the time, also hints at a grudging respect for the power and resilience of these African-diasporic beliefs.
For collectors, this edition represents a unique opportunity to own a piece of literary history that grapples with the complex interplay of religion, culture, and colonialism in the Caribbean. Readers will be drawn in by Cave’s vivid prose and the novel’s exploration of themes that remain relevant today, such as cultural preservation and the clash between modernity and tradition.