<p>When Mary-Mathilda, one of the most respected women of the island of Bimshire (also known as Barbados) calls the police to confess to a crime, the result is a shattering all-night vigil that brings together elements of the island's African past and the tragic legacy of colonialism in one epic sweep.</p> <p>Set in the West Indies in the period following World War II, <i>The Polished Hoe</i> -- an <i>Essence</i> bestseller and a <i>Washington Post Book World</i> Most Worthy Book of 2003 -- unravels over the course of twenty-four hours but spans the collective experience of a society characterized by slavery.</p>