I first bought this book because I was struck by the cover: a photograph taken of Brilliant Spider in the east end of London, 1935 by Felix H. Man. It depicts a sharply dressed male of the era in a pool hall who stares directly at you, with a sense of absolute self-confidence. A perfect cover for a book that sketches the realities of life for Caribbean migrants in post-war London, but from a place of strength and confidence.

The book sat on my bookshelf for a number of months before lockdown struck. Spending days on Zoom and staring at my computer, I was glad to dust it off and have a read. Despite being an academic, I am a very slow reader and the short book seemed ideal for the time.

The novel is set in post-war London’s written from the perspective of an immigrant from Trinidad, Moses Aloetta. Although Moses is the central character, he undertakes the role of a blank narrator - acting as a vehicle to guide the reader through the lived experiences of immigrants from the Caribbean - many of whom expected London to be a new El Dorado. However, it quickly becomes apparent that while London did offer some opportunity, the glittering promise of freedom and prosperity was merely myth.

 Selvon describes a city which is constantly foggy with brief moments of clarity, heat and sunlight. This in many ways mirrors the experiences of the newly colonised citizens - as the labyrinth of stories unfolds, the harsh reality of their lives becomes more evident. Moses tells of domestic struggle, exploitative working conditions, opportunistic landlords and poor standards of living. In a very poignant moment, the outlines the racial prejudice and abuse faced by one character is explored. It ends with him questioning why something such as the colour of his skin, which he has no control over, has determined that his life be clouded by oppression.

Much as Selvon describes the darkness of the city, he respectfully tells the darkness of the experiences of this vulnerable group. However, similar to the brief moments of sunlight in London, the novel also outlines the beauty of human connection and the strong sense of community which erupted out of shared identity and hardship. In a particularly interesting section, the narrator recalls, through a stream of consciousness, a summer in London that was filled with excitement, romance and prosperity. This brief outline indicates the balance of the book; while it does not shy away from the harsh realities of the lives of West Indian immigrants it is by no means a sad book. Selvon is able to highlight a multitude of issues in a short space and with a sense of dignity and humour which, in my opinion, can be an effective way of exploring the complex matters that are of absolute relevance 64 years later.

Perhaps the most exciting feature of the novel is the language style. Selvon writes in English, but is completely true to the dialect and slang of the time. He writes with a Creole accent; thereby offering an accurate representation of the voices behind the stories. This is truly unique and exemplifies the bravery of an author who at all times appears to be true to himself.