Return of Caribbean classics

TODAY IS a red-letter day. At 4 pm, Hodder Education will be launching 12 Caribbean novels: ten classics from the Heinemann Caribbean Classics catalogue Hodder acquired when the British-based publisher bought out Heinemann and two new novels which include Aunt Jen by University of the West Indies (UWI) professor, Paulette Ramsay.

Rebranded as Caribbean Contemporary Classics, the first 12 books to be launched include literary gems that have stood the test of time like A Brighter Sun by Samuel Selvon, Green Days by the River by Michael Anthony and The Young Warriors by VS Reid. Old Story Time, a play by Jamaica’s Trevor Rhone and Over Our Way, a collection of short stories edited by Jean D’Costa and Velma Pollard, make a dramatic comeback as well.

One of my favourite Caribbean classics, Harriet’s Daughter by Marlene Nourbese Philip, is also back in print. This classic novel of a Tobagonian girl who goes to Canada to live with her grandmother feels like it was written yesterday. Escape to Last Man Peak by Jean D’Costa deals with a pandemic. All the books featured are relevant to readers today.

The literature featured in this first dozen of Hodder Education releases deals with leadership and power, pandemics, racism and migration – all themes that define today’s world. They all offer an important historical perspective for Caribbean literature.

Caribbean literature is in demand in the Caribbean, and international publishers like Hodder Education, a division of British-based Hachette publishers, are testing the waters once again. The more publishers focusing on Caribbean literature, the better off we all are in the region. It improves our chances to make a splash in the international market in much the same way South American, Asian and African literature enriched the world of literature and gained an international reputation.

Caribbean books keep our voice alive as a region. The 12 books being launched today fit comfortably in a classroom to be studied at CXC level, but they transcend this traditional role of academic literature. These books can be read for pure enjoyment by everyone.

It is important to keep our Caribbean classics in print so that a new generation of regional readers can discover them and feel how Caribbean literature has evolved. Classics offer a different reading perspective with an added historical value. As a librarian, I have often seen voracious readers gravitate towards classics as they hone their analytical skills through reading.

Reading is our greatest weapon for tackling the restrictions that covid19 brought to our lives. We can’t get on a plane and travel, but we can escape and experience the benefits of a vacation through literature. Reading is also our best strategy for keeping students on track academically during covid19. Children who read improve their comprehension and analytical skills. Studies show reading elevates our mood, and when students feel happier, they concentrate on their education better.

Reading develops empathy, and it is the foundation for all learning in school and life. The more students read, the more they develop the skills they need to be happy, productive students and future citizens. It is important for our children to see themselves and their culture reflected in the books they read so that they can develop pride in themselves, their country and their culture.

The last year has been challenging and during this trying time defined by isolation, we sometimes question our sense of purpose. One of the best ways to support Caribbean culture is to buy and read a book by any Caribbean writer. This is what keeps our voice alive and keeps publishers interested in the region and our literature. Buying a book is, in many ways, a form of meaningful community service.

Twenty years ago, many major international publishers like Macmillan and Heinemann had Caribbean divisions that invested resources in publishing books from the Caribbean. These publishers disappeared because people did not buy books. Now we are seeing publishers take a chance once again. We will lose their support if we don’t support their efforts by buying our literature.

Having 12 Caribbean novels launched in one day feels like an unbelievable boon. Tune in today on Hodder’s YouTube channel to experience this historic launch, which takes place throughout the English-speaking Caribbean. There’s so much to discover in these books and all the Caribbean literature in our bookstores. Hodder Education’s books will be available at all bookstores by the end of this month. So do your part to make our Caribbean voice heard. Choose Caribbean books to read. Happy reading!