Product Description

A classic first novel about growing up in colonial Barbados. In the Castle of my Skin is a brilliant, sensitive record of the evolving consciousness of a poor village boy, at a time of rapid social change.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #101610 in Books
• Published on: 1979-05-29
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review

George Lamming's "In the Castle of My Skin" skilfully depicts the Barbadian psyche. Set against the backdrop of the 1930s riots which helped to pave the way for Independence and the modern Barbados, through the eyes of a young boy, Lamming portrays the social, racial, political and urban struggles with which Barbados continues to grapple even with some thirty-three years of Political Independence from Britain. Required reading for all Caribbean people. The novel also offers non-Barbadians and non-Caribbean people insight into the modern social history of Barbados and the Caribbean.

‘A writer of the people…one is back again in the pages of Huckleberry Finn_ the fundamental book of civilisation…Mr Lamming captures the myth-making and myth-dissolving mind of childhood’

                                         NEW STATESMAN

‘Its poetic imaginative writing has never been surpassed’

                                                TRIBUNE

‘A striking piece of work, a rich and memorable feat of imaginative interpretation’

                                               THE SPECTATOR

‘He produces anecdote after anecdote, rich and riotous.’

                                              THE TIMES

‘There is not a stock figure in the story… fluent, poetical, sophisticated.’

                                               THE SUNDAY TIMES

About the Author

George Lamming was born June 8, 1927 in Carrington’s Village, Barbados. He attended Combermere High School. He left Barbados for Trinidad in 1946 to become a teacher, four years later he was to migrate to England to become a writer. In the Castle of My Skin was completed within two years of his arrival in London.

Customer Reviews

Interesting and thought provoking book
I would recommend reading this book if you are intending to visit Barbados as I am. It gives you a glimpse of the history behind the people and the way of life during years of social change all through the eyes of a child who doesn't express any opinion but rather simply describes his life and therefore, provokes the opinion and feelings of an adult reader. I found it hard to imagine the racial and class distinctions before reading this book and even harder to imagine how those people felt who were discriminated against or found themselves part of a long line of unfortunates. An educational and interesting read.

Lilt, Malibu & Coke, Bounty Bars, Sandals Resorts - We need Lamming more than ever.
It is some years since I read `In the Castle of my skin', but on reading the other reviews, feel I should at least say something - or, should we consume Caribbean literature, as we do Caribbean culture in general, and only get as far as the beach?

This is a Caribbean/Modernist novel - a rare thing indeed. I would personally place it alongside Ralph Ellison's `Invisible Man', as a significant meeting between the height of literary form, and black experience. I recall some beautiful, allegorical passages: boys placing coins (with the queens head on), onto train tracks, in order to make improvised knives!!

I can also recall the meaning of the title unfolding as I read: "The Castle of my skin" is more than just an evocation of racial identity in a colonial context; it is also an evocation of the impervious, joyful feelings of childhood - where you feel you know the extent of the whole world, and everything in it. A feeling which comes with its own, inevitable coming of age - and, a feeling which Lamming subtly, extrapolates to the Island of Barbados as a whole.

`The Castle of my skin' is multifaceted, and poetic - some would say dry, and difficult. It all depends on what you look for in your literature.


NB: For people wishing to get under the skin of the contemporary Caribbean, I strongly recommend Jamaica Kincaid's satirical tour guide to Antigua: "A small place" - essential reading, regardless of which Island/s you may visit.

turgid
I bought this book for holiday reading as I couldn't find anything else by a Bajan writer and I was visiting Barbados (for the cricket). It was extremely heavy going, with not much plot, and paper thin characters.