At the Full and Change of the Moon is a book written by the Canadian poet Dionne Brand. The paperback spans over 320 pages of lyrical plot-driven action. It was first published in 1999 by Granta Books, Grove Press, and Knopf Canada, before being republished a year later by Grove Press and Vintage Canada. It was the latest republished with a new cover in 2011 by Vintage Canada. The book begins in 1824, following the life of a slave.
Marie-Ursule is the main character in the story. She is feisty and knows what she needs to do and what needs to be changed for her people to regain the freedom they once had. And that is a mass suicide. However, she had a daughter, and she need to be held safe and far away from the troubles a war can bring. The book follows how experiences, curses, and feelings travel through generations from one to another.
At the Full and Change of the Moon is a story of hope and redemption. Through Marie-Ursule’s courage and determination, the reader can see a glimpse of what change can bring and how it can impact generations to come. Through her story, Dionne Brand can show how a traumatic experience can shape the way a person thinks and how it can be passed on to future generations.
The book depicts the struggles of slavery and how it can impact someone’s life. The brand does a great job of portraying how a person can hold onto hope and continue to fight for freedom, even when the odds seem impossible. She also explores the idea of how even though a person may have been enslaved, they can still find joy and love in their lives.
The brand also shows the importance of learning from the past and how it can be used to shape the future. She also shows how a person can overcome fear and trauma and continue to fight for what they believe in.
The book also explores the concept of family and how it can be used to support and encourage one another. Marie-Ursule’s daughter serves as a reminder that love and family can be used to bring about change and help to build a better future.
Dionne Brand has won many awards for her books; A Map to the Door of No Return, Rivers Have Sources, Trees have Rooted and No Language is Neutral. She received the Trillium Prize for Literature, the Pat Lowther Award for poetry, and the Toronto Book Award. She has also worked as an essayist and a documentarian.
