Edgy Edgars: The Restless Youth in Suzanna Nelson's Nightmare along the River Nile: A Story of Twentieth Century Slavery

Abstract

Suzanna E. Nelson's first novel, Nightmare along the River Nile: A Story of Twentieth Century Slavery shows the danger faced by youth during war. While the young adult stage of life is generally characterized by unsteadiness—social, professional and otherwise—because individuals at this phase are yet to acquire the relative stability that is found in careers and marriages, being captured and drafted into an armed conflict worsens this unsettledness. This paper argues, therefore, that Edgar's capture and subsequent enslavement are emblematic of both his and other young people's instability. Indeed, his three former school mates who have to abandon their plans and embark on a journey to rescue him find themselves in wanton danger. Also exposed to serious danger, trauma and brutality are the youth, especially girls, who are captured alongside Edgar. This paper also evaluates the use of travel and means of transport as symbolic of the instability that pervade the novel.