- Library Binding: 441 pages
- Publisher: San Val (April 2005)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1417685891
- ISBN-13: 978-1417685899
- Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 14.2 x 2.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 499 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. After winning the Orange Prize and the Whitbread Book of the Year Award, Levy's captivating fourth novel sweeps into a U.S. edition with much-deserved literary fanfare. Set mainly in the British Empire of 1948, this story of emigration, loss and love follows four characters—two Jamaicans and two Britons—as they struggle to find peace in postwar England. After serving in the RAF, Jamaican Gilbert Joseph finds life in his native country has become too small for him. But in order to return to England, he must marry Hortense Roberts—she's got enough money for his passage—and then set up house for them in London. The pair move in with Queenie Bligh, whose husband, Bernard, hasn't returned from his wartime post in India. But when does Bernard turn up, he is not pleased to find black immigrants living in his house. This deceptively simple plot poises the characters over a yawning abyss of colonialism, racism, war and the everyday pain that people inflict on one another. Levy allows readers to see events from each of the four character's' point of view, lightly demonstrating both the subjectivity of truth and the rationalizing lies that people tell themselves when they are doing wrong. None of the characters is perfectly sympathetic, but all are achingly human. When Gilbert realizes that his pride in the British Empire is not reciprocated, he wonders, "How come England did not know me?" His question haunts the story as it moves back and forth in time and space to show how the people of two small islands become inextricably bound together. Agent, David Grossman. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
From School Library Journal
Adult/High School–This novel examines class, race, and prejudice in London in 1948, when a new multiracial England began to form. Through four principal narrators comprising two married couples, the author brings to life the dreams and fears of a generation. Gilbert, a Jamaican newlywed who served in the RAF during World War II, hopes for a prosperous future in London, though his experience of racial discrimination tells him this won't be achieved easily. His young wife, Hortense, is more naive. Arriving from the colonies prepared to take up a teaching career, she is soon in despair over rude rejections and her struggle to make herself understood, literally and figuratively, by white working-class neighbors who don't seem to comprehend the pristine English she learned on her home island. Even the small comforts provided by their affable landlady are soured when Queenie's long-missing husband returns and is less than pleased to meet the black boarders. As these mismatched pairs relate their sides of the story, the author's linguistic skill pitches their voices perfectly within time and place. Though none of the characters is very likable, all are nuanced personalities who make the book intriguing and believable throughout, even a final plot twist involving a coincidence of Dickensian proportions. Affecting, funny, and sad, this is a masterful depiction of a society on the verge of major changes.–Starr E. Smith, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
An enriching story,
By Sancho Mahle (Charlotte, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Small Island (Paperback)
Small Island is the amazing story on the first wave of Jamaican immigrants who arrived in Britain after WWII. With beautifully grafted characters and a gripping story line, the narrative takes you through different cultures, people and life styles, and through the dialogue, we are given access to the souls of the characters in their moments of weakness, doubts, fears and dreams. The plot is fantastic and the pace of the novel is so fast and gripping that you will end up finishing the book before you realize it. If you are into Cosmopolitan or multi-cultural fiction, then get this novel.Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE UNION MOUJIK ,THE USURPER AND OTHER STORIES
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
a wonderful read,
By Jen Fyffe (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Small Island (Paperback)
It's 1948 in an England that is still shaken by the Second World War. Gilbert Joseph is one of the thousands of West Indian men who came to the aid of the Mother country and served in the RAF. He returns to England from Jamaica in search of a better life, and is shocked by the reactions of the people, to his presence. Through the stories of Gilbert, Hortense, Queenie and Bernard-Small Island explores a point in England's past when the country began to change, and addresses the weighty themes of empire, prejudice, war and love with charm, humour and a generosity of spirit that challenges and uplifts the reader. I LOVED this book...Andrea Levy is funny as only the British can be about themselves. I had the pleasure of hearing her read at the Writers and Readers Festival in Vancouver and purchased several autographed copies for my family. This really is a must read for everyone.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A cracking good read!,
By Jackie Steele (Oshawa/Whitby, Ontario) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Small Island (Hardcover)
I just finished this book which was a pick from another member of our little book club in Whitby. I have to say that the ending brought me to tears over my lunch at work, and I had trouble focussing for many minutes, but the rest of the book made me laugh out loud in some places, smile in others, be sad and embarrassed at times but always I was totally into the story and the characters. Sometimes when we read, we have to put famous faces on the characters so that we can remember who they are but for "Small Island" it was not a problem - they each had their own faces and when each character told their story, it was not a problem to follow. This was an easy read but don't mistake that for simple writing - far from it. I think Andrea Levy is just an extremely gifted story-teller and Iwill certainly read her other books. Two thumbs up!!
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
