Small Island by Andrea Levy
Posted by bagpussjanet on April 5, 2008
Small Island by Andrea Levy is about two couples – a white British couple called Bernard and Queenie, and a black Jamaican couple called Gilbert and Hortense.
Gilbert signs up to fight for the ‘mother country’ and whilst in England, he meets Queenie. Queenie’s husband is away in the RAF at the time. After the war, he comes to live in England, and eventually his wife, Hortense, comes to join him.
Queenie takes in black people as Lodgers in her house in London, much to the disgust of her neighbours.
The story is mainly about racial disharmony and is told from each person’s perspective. It’s based around the year 1948, but with flashbacks to during the war.
It’s told in part real time and part flashback, and each chapter is about one of the four characters. I think I probably enjoyed Queenie’s bit best of all, followed by Gilbert, Bernie and then Hortense.
All in all, it was a very enjoyable read.
Reviewed by Janet
