Caribbean New Wave : Contemporary Short Stories (African Writers Series)

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Summary: Contemporary storytellers from the Caribbean
Review: "Caribbean New Wave: Contemporary Short Stories" brings together 23 tales, selected by Stewart Brown. The authors here represent a number of English-speaking Caribbean nations: Jamaica, Trinidad, Guyana, Belize, Antigua, and St. Lucia. These stories capture the linguistic, religious, racial, and political complexity of this region.

Some of the most memorable selections include the following: Opal Palmer Adisa's "Duppy Get Her," which makes use of local supernatural beliefs and vernacular language; Neil Bissoondath's "Insecurity," an ironic tale about the international economic intrigues of a Hindu businessman in the Caribbean; and Rooplall Monar's "Bahadur," a humorous tale written all in vernacular. But my favorite in the collection is Ian McDonald's "The Duel in Mercy Ward," a funny and moving tale about the relationship between two elderly men--one a Christian of black African heritage, the other a Hindu of Asian Indian ancestry--in a hospital ward.

The brief author biographies at the end of the book include some bibliographical resources for interested readers. Overall, "Caribbean New Wave" is a good book for those who are interested in exploring the fiction that has come out of the English-speaking Caribbean.