In 1948, Hortense Roberts arrives in London from Jamaica to join her husband, Gilbert Joseph, who fought for Britain in the war. Their landlady, Queenie Bligh, a white woman whose husband, Bernard, has not returned from the war, rents rooms to Jamaican tenants despite her neighbors' disapproval. The novel moves among the four characters, between wartime Britain and Jamaica and postwar London, showing how each experiences racism, hope and disappointment.
It is for readers who like historical fiction that covers the Windrush generation with humor and honesty. It suits those who want multiple perspectives and a story of ordinary people in the shadow of empire.
Balanced in tone; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2004
- Language
- EN
