Earl Lovelace es un novelista, dramaturgo y cuentista cuya obra se nutre de un conocimiento íntimo del Trinidad rural. A través de sus personajes, explora las complejidades de la sociedad poscolonial, el impacto de la historia en el presente y la búsqueda de la identidad. El estilo de Lovelace se caracteriza por su perspicaz visión de la psicología humana y su vibrante representación de la cultura y el espíritu caribeños.
There have been many great and enduring works of literature by Caribbean authors over the last century. The Caribbean Contemporary Classics collection celebrates these deep and vibrant stories, overflowing with life and acute observations about society.
James, Earl Lovelace's Caribbean classic tells the story of Calvary Hill - poverty stricken, pot-holed and garbage-strewn - where the slum shacks 'leap out of the red dirt and stone, thin like smoke, fragile like kite paper, balancing on their rickety pillars as broomsticks on the edge of a juggler's nose'.
Exposing the political and cultural failure to address the challenges of postcolonial Trinidad, this insightful novel portrays a world where the working man must face the crime and violence that is destroying the social body. Walter Castle is dissatisfied with his regular job in the Laventille slum in Port of Spain. As the prospect of promotion is bleak and crime and lawless youth become insupportable, he dreams of going back to the village community he grew up in. Unfortunately, the force of nostalgia is not supported by actual memories and as Walter abandons his dreams he is forced to choose between turning into a drone who passes through life without leaving a mark, or standing up for himself. Originally published in 1965, this story remains surprisingly contemporary with its astringent critique of the top-down authoritarianism of nationalist politics.
Earl Lovelace's collection showcases the vibrant tapestry of everyday life in Trinidad through the eyes of relatable characters like Victory the barber and Miss Ross, a former beauty. Each story blends compassion and humor, capturing the essence of ordinary experiences while infusing them with a touch of magic. The narrative rhythm and colorful settings invite readers to explore a dynamic world filled with hopes, dreams, and the pursuit of new horizons.
as, in their day-to-day adventures - be it a game of cricket, the short life of a corner shop or a miracle at a funeral - they begin to see more clearly what their community has to offer for its liberation.