Offers a heart-breaking portrayal of modern Jamaica, describing the land of drugs, gangs and corruption that exists behind the vacation-resort facade that most travelers see. Original. 12,000 first printing.
When Graham Greene passed away in 1991 at 86, he was recognized as a significant Catholic writer, known for his exploration of sin and challenging themes. His work in the British Catholic journal The Tablet allowed him to share both his literary endeavors and unconventional religious perspectives. Greene was particularly fascinated by martyrdom, and his experiences in 1930s Mexico, where Roman Catholicism faced severe oppression, inspired impactful journalism first published in The Tablet. This collection features four of his Mexico despatches: "Mexican Sunday," "A Catholic Adventurer and his Mexican Journal," "In Search of a Miracle," and "The Dark Virgin." Additionally, it includes a long essay on the Assumption, "Our Lady and Her The Only Figure of Perfect Love," from 1951, along with 26 book reviews for The Tablet's "Fiction Chronicle." Greene's reviews highlight his broad-mindedness, praising works by authors such as Ignazio Silone and Karel Čapek. This volume gathers Greene's contributions to The Tablet, much of which has not been published in fifty years. It also features "Two Friends," an essay detailing Greene's friendship with diplomat Peter Leslie, alongside previously unseen correspondence between them.
An enthralling journey into the shadowy republic of Haiti. In the land of Vodou, zombies and the Tontons Macoute. In this classic account, history jostles with adventure, high comedy is touched with danger; and Haiti glows like a magic charm. Now updated and with a new foreword by the author for the post-earthquake edition.
Primo Levi, renowned for his essential works, lived an unremarkable life, managing a paint and varnish factory and caring for his invalid mother until his death in the house where he was born. Ian Thomson provides a compelling account of Levi's extraordinary yet humble existence, revealing the story of a man who became a universal symbol of conscience and humanism. Drawing on exclusive access to family members and previously unseen correspondence, Thomson reconstructs Levi's youth in Turin during Mussolini's regime, his harrowing experiences in Auschwitz, and his challenging reintegration into postwar Italy. The biography presents Levi's multifaceted character, highlighting his love for Louis Armstrong, fast cars, insomnia, and numerous workplace accidents. Thomson delves into the controversies and isolation of Levi's later years, exploring the tensions between his private struggles and his ability to forge friendships, as well as his deep depression juxtaposed with a love for life and ideas. Acclaimed in Britain as "the best sort of history," this biography is poised to become the definitive account of Levi's life and a vital companion to his literary works.