Sab

Published in Madrid in 1841 by the Cuban-Spanish author Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda, Sab is a groundbreaking work that intertwines Romantic sensibilities with a searing critique of colonial society. Unlike other Cuban antislavery novels of the time, which emerged from the reformist circles of Domingo del Monte and advocated for gradual change to avoid slave rebellions, Sab stands apart for its radical humanism and its bold exploration of the intersection between race and gender.

The novel tells the tragic story of Sab, a mulatto slave of “noble soul” and exceptional intelligence, who falls deeply in love with his mistress, Carlota. This forbidden love becomes the vehicle for Avellaneda to expose the cruel hypocrisies of the slave system and the mercenary nature of colonial marriage. Through the character of Sab, who articulates thoughts on liberty and human rights that were revolutionary for his time, the author challenges the dehumanization of the enslaved population.

Avellaneda's narrative is uniquely “amphibological”, reflecting both colonial and metropolitan perspectives, yet it is undeniably subversive. It presents a parallel between the condition of the slave and the condition of women in 19th-century society, both subject to the tyranny of masters and husbands. The novel also touches upon the controversial concept of "blanqueamiento" (whitening) and incorporates indigenous Cuban legends, grounding the story deeply in the island's soil.

Banned in Cuba by the colonial censors for containing “doctrines subversive to the system of slavery,” Sab remains a vital text for understanding the literary and social history of the Caribbean. This edition, edited by Ivan A. Schulman, situates the novel within its complex historical context, highlighting its futuristic vision of a society free from the “filthy altars” of prejudice and oppression.