Cynthia McLeod

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Cynthia McLeod
Cynthia McLeod.jpg
Cynthia McLeod in 1997
Born
Cynthia Henri Ferrier

(1936-10-04) 4 October 1936 (age 84)
Paramaribo, Suriname
NationalityDutch
OccupationAuthor
Known forHoe duur was de suiker (1987), Elisabeth Samson (1993)

Cynthia Henri McLeod (née Ferrier; born 4 October 1936) is a Surinamese novelist known for her historic novels and whose debut novel instantly made her one of the most prominent authors of Suriname.[1][2]

Background[]

McLeod was born in Paramaribo as Cynthia Ferrier; she is the daughter of Johan Ferrier, the first President of Suriname.[3] She is the half-sister of Dutch politician Kathleen Ferrier.

She completed her secondary school education in Suriname and continued her education in the Netherlands, where she studied to become a teacher in Child Care and Education.[1] She married Dr. Donald McLeod whom she met in the Netherlands. As a teacher, she participated in a project for education renewal, and wrote a number of stories for children which were published in the series Van Hier en daar en Overal.[4] In 1962 they went to Suriname, where McLeod studied for a teaching degree in Dutch language and Dutch literature. From 1969 to 1978 she taught Dutch language and literature in pre-university education in Paramaribo. Her husband, Donald McLeod, was appointed in 1978 as Suriname’s Ambassador to Venezuela.[2] He later became Suriname’s ambassador to Belgium and the United States. Abroad, McLeod started writing; during her stay in Belgium she had the opportunity to do research in the archives[2] of The Hague, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Emmerich, and Köln.

In 1986 the McLeods returned to Suriname and in 1987 her debut novel Hoe duur was de suiker? (The Cost of Sugar) was published by publisher Vaco in Paramaribo. The first print was sold out within a few weeks and Cynthia McLeod became the most famous Surinamese novelist overnight.[1][2] Later this historical novel about the sugar cane industry in the 18th century was published under license by her Dutch publisher Conserve. The novel was later turned into a movie with the same name, and broadcast as a mini series by VARA Television.[5] Soon other historical novels from her hand appeared, such as Herinneringen aan Mariënburg.[6]

McLeod also wrote books for children. The most important are Lafu (1992), Toen het vakantie was (1999).[2]

Elisabeth Samson[]

McLeod studied the life of Elisabeth Samson for over eleven years. Samson was a free black woman whose name occurs prominently in historical works on Suriname because she wanted to marry a white man (which was forbidden in the colony Suriname during the first half of the 18th century). The results of this research were first published as a study by the Faculty of Cultural Anthropology of the University of Utrecht.[2] For eight years subsequently McLeod studied the social structure and life of that period, which allowed her to position Elisabeth as a rich free black person in this society dominated by prejudices and white supremacy. She then wrote the novel: The Free Negress Elisabeth.[7]

McLeod considered the dilapidated state of the Elisabeth Samson House shameful, and established the Elisabeth Samson Foundation in order to restore the building to its original condition.[8] The building was bought by the Elisabeth Samson Foundation on 19 January 2021. It will be restored to its originally shape. After the restoration, the building will turned into the Elisabeth Samson Museum.[9]

Other activities[]

Cynthia McLeod (right) signing a copy of her novel in Miami, Florida, USA in 2005

As a result of her research McLeod has gained a wealth of knowledge about Surinamese history, knowledge she gladly shares with others. She organizes free educational trips for Surinamese school youth with her motorized vessel, the Sweet Merodia. During these tours on Surinamese rivers, past former plantations, she captivates her audiences with stories about its interesting past. She further engages in historic city tours through the centre of historic Paramaribo, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002.[10]

Bibliography[]

Historical novels
Hoe duur was de suiker 1987 ISBN 90-5429-056-0
Vaarwel Merodia 1993 ISBN 99914-0-047-8
Ma Rochelle Passée Welkom El Dorado 1996 ISBN 90-5429-053-6
Tweemaal Mariënburg 1997 ISBN 90-5429-087-0
Herinneringen aan Mariënburg 1998 ISBN 99914-0-055-9
De vrije negerin Elisabeth 2000 ISBN 90-5429-078-1
The Free Negress Elisabeth 2005 ISBN 99914-71-20-0
... die revolutie niet begrepen!... 2005 ISBN 90-5429-201-6
Tutuba. Het meisje van het slavenschip Leusden 2013 ISBN 978 90-5429-357-6
Zenobia – Slavin op het paleis 2015 ISBN 90-5429-399-3
Studies
Elisabeth Samson; een vrije zwarte vrouw in het achttiende-eeuwse Suriname 1993/1996 ISBN 90-5429-054-4
Slavernij en de Memorie 2002 ISBN 90-5429-159-1
Kriskras door Frimangron 2003 ISBN 90-6832-537-X
Paramaribo. Stad van harmonische tegenstellingen 2007 ISBN 978-90-5429-237-1
Children’s books and musicals
Lafu 1992  
Toen het vakantie was 1999 ISBN 99914-87-02-6
De kinderen van de Burenstraat 1997  
Het Grote Regenwoud 2003  

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Michiel van Kempen (1989). "Surinaamse schrijvers en dichters". Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Schrijvers en dichters (dbnl biografieënproject I)". Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). 2003. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Through The Eyes Of Cynthia Mcleod : A Historical Journey To Suriname In The 18th Century". Caribbean Community Secretariat. 29 March 2007. Archived from the original on 22 June 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  4. ^ "OSO. Tijdschrift voor Surinaamse taalkunde, letterkunde en geschiedenis. Jaargang 12". Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Zenobia – nieuwe roman van Cynthia McLeod". Caraïbisch Uitzicht (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  6. ^ "[Bespreking van] Cynthia Mc Leod, Tweemaal Mariënburg. Surinaamse historische roman". Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). 1998. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  7. ^ Leod, Cynthia Mc (2008). The Free Negress Elisabeth. Arcadia Books Limited. ISBN 978-1-905147-83-0.
  8. ^ "Elisabeth Samson huis en Cynthia McLeod". Atria (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Stichting Elisabeth Samson's Huis koopt pand aan Wagenwegstraat van de Staat". Waterkant (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  10. ^ "SURINAME WITH CYNTHIA McLEOD". Eden Suriname. Retrieved 8 June 2020.

External links[]

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