Burden of Bondage, by Neville Johnston

A chance sexual encounter between Quamina, a mysterious black free woman, and Lord Alexander Harlan, the wealthy and powerful white owner of the 18th century Jamaica sugar cane plantation Paragon Hall, sets in motion a chain of events that drastically alter the course of history of the Harlan dynasty and their plantation.

Through the clever scheming of Quamina, the fair-skinned son of a slave-girl enjoys the tremendous wealth and privilege of being a Harlan, while his dark-skinned twin brother is cast into the wretched life of a slave.
Sparks fly when a murder at Paragon Hall pits the powerful fair-skinned brother sitting as the Judge against his dark-skinned twin brother.

About the Author

Having arrived in Canada from Jamaica in 1959 with $5, his clothes, and a few books, Neville Johnston graduated with a B.A. from University of Toronto in 1961 and then Osgoode Hall Law School in 1964.  For 53 years, he practiced law and was a partner in the Brockville-firm, Henderson Johnston Fournier.  In addition to being a Member of the Bar of Ontario, Johnston is also a Member of the Bar of New York.  He is the recipient of the Vanier Award (1973) as one of five Outstanding Young Persons of Canada, a distinction later shared by former Governor General Edward Schreyer (1975) and hockey great Wayne Gretzky (1982). Johnston, now retired and enjoying writing, self proclaims that he is a true "alchemist of words".  

Neville Johnston books can be found on Amazon.ca, Amazon.com and www.shopdreamweaver.ca (once in the site, do a search for Neville Johnston)