Valerie Martin's Novel Property is a gripping story of a slave owner's wife and a slave, who was a mistress of the slave owner, during late 18th century New Orleans . Martin takes you through the lives of Manon Guadet and her servant Sarah, as Mrs. Gaudet lives unhappily married on a plantation and Sarah lives unhappily on the plantation. Mrs. Gaudet's misery comes from the misfortune of being married to a man she despises and does not love. Sarah, the slave, is unhappy solely due to the fact that she is a slave and has unintentionally conceived children by Mrs. Gaudiest's husband, which rightly makes Sarah a mistress. Throughout the book, Martin captivates the reader and allows you to put yourself in the characters shoes and it is almost as if you can identify with the characters feelings. Throughout the novel, Martin allows his readers to feel a kind of sympathy for both Manon and Manon. and Sarah, and even at one point in the novel, you even feel quite sympathetic towards Manon's husband. Quitting often, Manon's mother asks her why she won't conceive her husband's baby, both her mother and her husband believe that she should seek medical help, but the doctor tells her that she is in excellent health and is able to conceive but the point it's Manon doesn't want it. He sees that she is already unhappy with this man, because she should have children with him which would only make her closer to him than she already is. Sarah, the slave and mistress, had two sons of the slave owner. Walter, an out-of-control, deaf 8-year-old boy and Nell, a 6-month-old girl. Manon despises both children and Sarah. There is nothing more that Manon wants than a loving and faithful husband and not to live in the middle of paper unless her husband dies. Her husband spent most nights with the couple's personal maid, Sarah, who conceived this man's children. Mrs. Gaudet also hates children only because they remind her so much of her husband. Manon soon gains freedom when her husband is murdered by African American rebels. Quotes • Martin, Valerie. 1st ed. United States: Nan a. Talese, 2003. 3-193.• Fraser, Liz, ed. "Book Club". (2003).• “Slave Rebellion.” August 29, 2007 .• "Slave Rebellions." Encyclopedia Britannica. 2007 .• "Valerie Martin". Wikipedia. May 20, 2007 .• "Valerie Martin." Random House, INC. 2007 .