The Astonishing Life of Octavian
Nothing, Traitor To the Nation,
Volume 1: The Pox Party
by M. T. Anderson
Nothing, Traitor To the Nation,
Volume 1: The Pox Party
by M. T. Anderson
THE ASTONISHING LIFE OF OCTAVIAN NOTHING, TRAITOR TO THE NATION by M.T. Anderson
Category: Historical
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 9/12/06
Publisher: Candlewick
Reviewed by: Cana Rensberger
Rating: 5 Stars
Even the title gives the reader a glimpse of the ostentatious nature of this incredible book. THE ASTONISHING LIFE OF
OCTAVIAN NOTHING, TRAITOR TO THE NATION is presented as a young adult title, which should in no way limit it
only to the teen audience. Indeed, this book will be a challenge for many high school students -- a challenge well worth the
effort.
M.T. Anderson immediately immerses his reader in the flowery, pretentious language spoken in the Revolutionary War
period, a language that requires thought and concentration for today’s reader. Once the reader is acclimated to the writing
style, they are already hooked by Octavian’s story. Octavian, an African prince, was sold while yet unborn, to one Mr.
Gitney, referred to as 03-01, of the Novanglian College of Lucidity. He was dressed in fine silks and fed the finest of fares.
His mother was treated as the African princess she was, entertaining gentlemen, playing her harpsichord.
It was not until Octavian turned eight that he realized his life was not normal, that he was indeed one of the College’s
experiments. No other human being had their intake, as well as their body’s waste, measured and recorded. Every word
spoken, every situation, was a challenge to excel, an experiment to determine if the African race was capable of advanced
thought and skill. Not all children, especially black children, were given the opportunity for a classical education. Octavian
was already an accomplished violinist. He read all of the great literature, in several languages, including Greek and Latin. He
understood figures, physics, and sciences of the earth. No discipline was left untouched in the quest to determine the
potential of a slave to learn.
THE ASTONISHING LIFE OF OCTAVIAN NOTHING, TRAITOR TO THE NATION is written from Octavian’s
point of view. Some passages are as though written by his own hand, then scribbled through, as if Octavian, with his vast
education, still could not find the proper words to convey the horrors he had lived. His life of seeming luxury changes when
the college’s benefactor dies. Mr. Gitney entertains Lord Cheldethorpe in hopes that he will see fit to continue to finance the
college as his uncle before him. For a time it seems that he is the solution to the College’s financial distress. Especially since
he has taken an acute interest in Octavian’s mother. It is when she violently opposes his offer of her purchase, rather than a
royal marriage, that Octavian and his mother experience the outrage and beatings more typical in the life of a slave. To
Octavian’s great relief, Lord Cheldethorpe returns to England and a new financial supporter, Mr. Sharpe, is found.
But Mr. Sharpe changes the experiment. Now the lessons seem more designed to prove failure rather than success. When
not engaged in his “lessons," Octavian is treated as a simple slave, along with his mother. Add to this the mounting unrest of
the American nation, and fear is paramount. The entire household flees Boston to Canaan, Massachusetts. It is there that the
most horrific experiment takes place. Mr. Gitney throws a pox party, whereby all, white and black alike, are “inoculated”
against the small pox virus in hopes that they will be immune. Instead, Octavian witnesses pain and loss at the most personal
level.
At this point the reader will identify with Octavian on a primal level, and feel enormous relief when, finally, Octavian makes
his escape. We read about his life as a soldier in the Patriot’s army through the letters of one of his co-patriots, one Private
Evidence Goring. But it’s not until his capture, and subsequent total isolation, that the reader truly understands the complete
desolation and hopelessness in the life of a slave. When M.T. Anderson places the iron mask, which he so artfully described
to the reader in an earlier chapter, on Octavian, the reader feels complete revulsion and aches for Octavian to be released
from this abject misery.
The story is masterfully written and researched. It is one of the most difficult books I’ve ever read, both in vocabulary and
realism. That I made it through to the end makes me feel smart, educated, humble, and indeed amazed, nay fortunate, to
have been given a glimpse into the mind of a genius, M.T. Anderson. I’m quite confident that the readers’ desire to find out
the fate of Octavian Nothing will still pulse within by the time Mr. Anderson shares Volume II with the world.
Category: Historical
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 9/12/06
Publisher: Candlewick
Reviewed by: Cana Rensberger
Rating: 5 Stars
Even the title gives the reader a glimpse of the ostentatious nature of this incredible book. THE ASTONISHING LIFE OF
OCTAVIAN NOTHING, TRAITOR TO THE NATION is presented as a young adult title, which should in no way limit it
only to the teen audience. Indeed, this book will be a challenge for many high school students -- a challenge well worth the
effort.
M.T. Anderson immediately immerses his reader in the flowery, pretentious language spoken in the Revolutionary War
period, a language that requires thought and concentration for today’s reader. Once the reader is acclimated to the writing
style, they are already hooked by Octavian’s story. Octavian, an African prince, was sold while yet unborn, to one Mr.
Gitney, referred to as 03-01, of the Novanglian College of Lucidity. He was dressed in fine silks and fed the finest of fares.
His mother was treated as the African princess she was, entertaining gentlemen, playing her harpsichord.
It was not until Octavian turned eight that he realized his life was not normal, that he was indeed one of the College’s
experiments. No other human being had their intake, as well as their body’s waste, measured and recorded. Every word
spoken, every situation, was a challenge to excel, an experiment to determine if the African race was capable of advanced
thought and skill. Not all children, especially black children, were given the opportunity for a classical education. Octavian
was already an accomplished violinist. He read all of the great literature, in several languages, including Greek and Latin. He
understood figures, physics, and sciences of the earth. No discipline was left untouched in the quest to determine the
potential of a slave to learn.
THE ASTONISHING LIFE OF OCTAVIAN NOTHING, TRAITOR TO THE NATION is written from Octavian’s
point of view. Some passages are as though written by his own hand, then scribbled through, as if Octavian, with his vast
education, still could not find the proper words to convey the horrors he had lived. His life of seeming luxury changes when
the college’s benefactor dies. Mr. Gitney entertains Lord Cheldethorpe in hopes that he will see fit to continue to finance the
college as his uncle before him. For a time it seems that he is the solution to the College’s financial distress. Especially since
he has taken an acute interest in Octavian’s mother. It is when she violently opposes his offer of her purchase, rather than a
royal marriage, that Octavian and his mother experience the outrage and beatings more typical in the life of a slave. To
Octavian’s great relief, Lord Cheldethorpe returns to England and a new financial supporter, Mr. Sharpe, is found.
But Mr. Sharpe changes the experiment. Now the lessons seem more designed to prove failure rather than success. When
not engaged in his “lessons," Octavian is treated as a simple slave, along with his mother. Add to this the mounting unrest of
the American nation, and fear is paramount. The entire household flees Boston to Canaan, Massachusetts. It is there that the
most horrific experiment takes place. Mr. Gitney throws a pox party, whereby all, white and black alike, are “inoculated”
against the small pox virus in hopes that they will be immune. Instead, Octavian witnesses pain and loss at the most personal
level.
At this point the reader will identify with Octavian on a primal level, and feel enormous relief when, finally, Octavian makes
his escape. We read about his life as a soldier in the Patriot’s army through the letters of one of his co-patriots, one Private
Evidence Goring. But it’s not until his capture, and subsequent total isolation, that the reader truly understands the complete
desolation and hopelessness in the life of a slave. When M.T. Anderson places the iron mask, which he so artfully described
to the reader in an earlier chapter, on Octavian, the reader feels complete revulsion and aches for Octavian to be released
from this abject misery.
The story is masterfully written and researched. It is one of the most difficult books I’ve ever read, both in vocabulary and
realism. That I made it through to the end makes me feel smart, educated, humble, and indeed amazed, nay fortunate, to
have been given a glimpse into the mind of a genius, M.T. Anderson. I’m quite confident that the readers’ desire to find out
the fate of Octavian Nothing will still pulse within by the time Mr. Anderson shares Volume II with the world.