--- product_id: 48104819 title: "The Polished Hoe: An Epic Novel of Confession and Colonial Legacy in Post-WWII Barbados" brand: "austin clarke" price: "VT3366" currency: VUV in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/48104819-the-polished-hoe-an-epic-novel-of-confession-and-colonial store_origin: VU region: Vanuatu --- # The Polished Hoe: An Epic Novel of Confession and Colonial Legacy in Post-WWII Barbados **Brand:** austin clarke **Price:** VT3366 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Polished Hoe: An Epic Novel of Confession and Colonial Legacy in Post-WWII Barbados by austin clarke - **How much does it cost?** VT3366 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/48104819-the-polished-hoe-an-epic-novel-of-confession-and-colonial) ## Best For - austin clarke enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted austin clarke brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The Polished Hoe: A Novel ## Images ![The Polished Hoe: An Epic Novel of Confession and Colonial Legacy in Post-WWII Barbados - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61InaKPAlqL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Not An Easy Read ... But Worth It *by M***E on Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2012* Austin Clarke's, The Polished Hoe, can be a slow read especially since the entire novel only covers a twenty-four hour period. However, within those 400+ pages, Clarke covers a lot of ground. The book is primarily about the main protagonist's (Mary-Mathilda) confession to a murder but Clarke also works a personal and geographical history into the main plotline. Clarke is able to produce many stories within the main one by incorporating multiple themes and literary techniques layered over each other. The ways in which Clarke does this can at times feel like the narrative is full of tangents but these tangents are where the details of the novel reside. Clarke explores multiple ideas within the novel. Some of the main themes are memory, class, time, nationalism, gender, desire, labor, history, language, race/colorism and of course the lingering effects of colonialism. All in all I feel like the novel is a good (but not easy) read, especially if you enjoy Caribbean literature and history or if you are interested in learning about colonialism and how ruthless plantation life was in Barbados. ### ⭐⭐⭐ In a Nut Shell *by L***W on Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2012* Austin Clarke's The Polished Hoe is a novel that reveals the history of "Bimshire," or Barbados, through memories and accounts of Miss Mary Gertrude Matilda Paul, also known as Miss Belfeels, the mistress of plantation owner Mr. Belfeels. Mary Matilda calls the police station asking for the Sergeant, an old friend by the name of Percy, claiming she needs to confess a crime. As the story goes on the reader is also exposed to the love between these two characters and the obstacles that stand in their way. As Mary Matilda recreates her transgression along with every possible detail leading up to the event, she also divulges much of the history of the island they have grown up on. Clarke mirrors Mary Matilda's own story and experiences to the island of Barbados as a whole. The sacrifices she makes are necessary for her own personal freedom. Clarke does an excellent job of revealing the history of the island through her narrative. By choosing to expose the world to the effects of slavery and the sexual brutality existent in Barbados in this particular way, it makes his point more effective and the hardships much more real. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Attention grabbing *by Z***A on Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2020* Very interesting book! I purchased this book to take on my cruise and I’m glad it didn’t disappoint. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/48104819-the-polished-hoe-an-epic-novel-of-confession-and-colonial](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/48104819-the-polished-hoe-an-epic-novel-of-confession-and-colonial) --- *Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu* *Store origin: VU* *Last updated: 2026-05-09*