Explaining TexacoPatrick Chamoiseau is a captivating novel that traces the history of Martinique from its days as a French slave colony to its current status as a part of France. Primarily told through the personal stories of Marie-Sophie Laborieux and her father, Esternome, Texaco provides a personal and communal account of the black experience in Martinique that a traditional historical account could not provide. Marie-Sophie's story exposes the main theme of the book: language. The book then presents a dichotomy between the Martinicans. On the one hand, the French language and governmental structure represent European beliefs in logic and order, while Creole beliefs are largely based on magic, allusions, and cultural traditions. There is also a dichotomy between mulatto (European) French and Creole French, creating an even more polarizing divide between the island's white settlers and black inhabitants. The 400-page novel is divided into four sections titled Ages: The Age of Straw (1823-1920), The Age of Boxwood (1903-1945), The Age of Asbestos (1946-1960) and The Age of Concrete (1961). -1980). Chronologically, Esternome's journey is similar to the migration of former slaves: from Saint-Pierre, to work in the factories, and finally to the city of Fort-de-France. Additionally, the materials also follow the evolution of people from slavery to a functional civilization, and the materials provide security and solidarity in a place like Ninon. Overall, the book explores the political importance of language and its relationship to racial identity in Martinique through the personal narratives of the characters imagined by Chamoiseau. When you first read the book, you may not understand exactly what the middle of the paper says. ......n and Reno's French and West Indian help bridge the gap between Texaco's interplay of reality and fiction, and further validate the imaginative historical narrative that Chamoiseau so desires. Good improvement from the last two reviews. I like how you start to move away from summaries and make connections between works. I would still have liked to see a clearer argument and less discussion of form (especially in the first half of the essay) and more of substance. But good progress. We need to revisit what constitutes plagiarism, so let's talk about it during office hours. B+Works cited Burton, Richard DE and Fred Reno. French and West Indian: Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana today. Charlottesville and London: University of Virginia, 1995. Print. Chamoiseau, Patrick. Texaco. Trans. Rose-Myriam Réjouis and Val Vinokurov. New York: Pantheon, 1997. Print.