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A Collection of Pieces Written About the West Indies Between 1928 and 1953

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The Sugar Islands: A Collection of Pieces Written About the West Indies Between 1928 and 1953 (Bloomsbury Reader)

by Alec Waugh

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1105 KB
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Print length	:	416 pages

This collection of pieces written about the West Indies between 1928 and 1953 provides a unique glimpse into the region's history, culture, and people. The pieces, which include travelogues, essays, and short stories, were written by a variety of authors, including both visitors to the region and residents of the West Indies.

The collection begins with a piece by British travel writer Patrick Leigh Fermor, who visited the West Indies in 1928. Fermor's piece, entitled "The West Indies: A Land of Beauty and Contrasts," provides a vivid description of the region's natural beauty, as well as its social and economic conditions. Fermor writes about the poverty and inequality that he witnessed in the West Indies, but he also celebrates the region's vibrant culture and its people's resilience.

The collection also includes a number of pieces by West Indian authors, including C.L.R. James, Derek Walcott, and Samuel Selvon. James's essay, "The West Indies: A Cultural Crossroads," explores the region's complex history and its unique cultural identity. Walcott's poem, "A Far Cry from Africa," laments the legacy of colonialism in the West Indies, while Selvon's short story, "The Lonely Londoners," tells the story of a group of West Indian immigrants living in London.

These pieces provide a valuable historical record of the West Indies during a period of great change. They offer insights into the region's political, economic, and social conditions, as well as its cultural and intellectual life. The collection is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and culture of the West Indies.

Patrick Leigh Fermor: The West Indies: A Land of Beauty and Contrasts
C.L.R. James: The West Indies: A Cultural Crossroads
Derek Walcott: A Far Cry from Africa
Samuel Selvon: The Lonely Londoners

Patrick Leigh Fermor: The West Indies: A Land of Beauty and Contrasts

Patrick Leigh Fermor was a British travel writer who visited the West Indies in 1928. His piece, entitled "The West Indies: A Land of Beauty and Contrasts," provides a vivid description of the region's natural beauty, as well as its social and economic conditions.

Fermor writes about the poverty and inequality that he witnessed in the West Indies, but he also celebrates the region's vibrant culture and its people's resilience.

Here is an excerpt from Fermor's piece:

The West Indies is a land of beauty and contrasts. The islands are a necklace of jewels strung across the Caribbean Sea. They are a paradise of white beaches, blue skies, and lush vegetation. But the West Indies is also a land of poverty and inequality. The majority of the population lives in poverty, and the gap between the rich and the poor is growing wider.

Fermor's piece provides a valuable historical record of the West Indies in the 1920s. It offers insights into the region's political, economic, and social conditions, as well as its cultural and intellectual life.

C.L.R. James: The West Indies: A Cultural Crossroads

C.L.R. James was a West Indian historian, political activist, and writer. His essay, "The West Indies: A Cultural Crossroads," explores the region's complex history and its unique cultural identity.

James argues that the West Indies is a cultural crossroads, where African, European, and Indian cultures have interacted to create a new and distinct culture.

Here is an excerpt from James's essay:

The West Indies is a cultural crossroads. It is a meeting place of three great cultures: African, European, and Indian. These cultures have interacted to create a new and distinct culture that is unique to the West Indies.

James's essay provides a valuable insight into the cultural history of the West Indies. It offers a nuanced understanding of the region's complex history and its unique cultural identity.

Derek Walcott: A Far Cry from Africa

Derek Walcott is a West Indian poet and playwright. His poem, "A Far Cry from Africa," laments the legacy of colonialism in the West Indies.

Walcott writes about the pain and suffering that colonialism has caused in the West Indies. He also writes about the resilience and strength of the West Indian people.

Here is an excerpt from Walcott's poem:

A far cry from Africa... I have heard the drums, And the voices singing That song of pain and pride.

Walcott's poem is a powerful indictment of colonialism. It is also a celebration of the West Indian people's resilience and strength.

Samuel Selvon: The Lonely Londoners

Samuel Selvon was a West Indian novelist and short story writer. His short story, "The Lonely Londoners," tells the story of a group of West Indian immigrants living in London.

Selvon writes about the challenges and struggles that West Indian immigrants face in London. He also writes about their resilience and determination.

Here is an excerpt from Selvon's short story:

The lonely Londoners. They were all lonely, even in the midst of the teeming millions. They were lonely because they were different. They were different because they were black.

Selvon's short story is a moving and insightful portrayal of the lives of West Indian immigrants in London. It is a story of struggle and resilience, of hope and determination.

This collection of pieces written about the West Indies between 1928 and 1953 provides a unique glimpse into the region's history, culture, and people. The pieces, which include travelogues, essays, and short stories, offer insights into the region's political, economic, and social conditions, as well as its cultural and intellectual life. The collection is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and culture of the West Indies.

The Sugar Islands: A Collection of Pieces Written About the West Indies Between 1928 and 1953 (Bloomsbury Reader)

by Alec Waugh

5 out of 5