Trinidad / Special Interests / Recommended reading

Trinidad has a formidable literary heritage and a number of internationally renowned authors, though booksellers are slightly harder to track down. The best is probably the aptly named Reader’s  in Woodbrook, where you can browse through a huge number of titles and sip top quality coffee too. Imagine a tropical Waterstones if you’re familiar with the British brand. Metropolitan Book Suppliers is downtown in Frederick Street, and specialises in Caribbean and local history, while Khan’s is another decent outlet, long-established and also stocking a good range of lifestyle publications, with branches in the larger shopping malls at Long Circular, Ellerslie Plaza and West Mall out near Westmoorings.

There are also two libraries on opposite sides of Woodford Square in the capital, the attractive old Public Library and the newer more modernistic Port of Spain Adult Library. The following is a small selection of the best local writers and their pre-eminent works:

The Dragon Can’t Dance, by Earl Lovelace, required reading for anyone seeking to comprehend the essence of Carnival and much more besides.

Beyond a Boundary, by C L R James, cricket historian, observer of politics, history and culture from the 1930’s and explorer of West Indian identity as seen through cricket; contains the immortal line “what do they know of cricket, who only cricket know”.

A House for Mr Biswas, by V S Naipaul, made the author a literary icon at the age of 27. Also wrote the Mystic Masseur, Miguel Street and the Middle Passage amongst others.

Black Fauns, by Alfred Mendes, social commentary on barrack-yard community life in Port of Spain during the 1930’s.

Omeros, by Nobel Prize winner, Derek Walcott, St Lucian by birth but a long-term resident of Port of Spain, an epic story of Caribbean life and struggle.

The Trinidad Carnival, by Errol Hill, its history and modern day evolution.

Lal Shop, by Paul Keens-Douglas, written in patois, a humorous take on everyday lives and observations.

Trinidad Sweet, by Adrian Bird, a hardcore, biting insight into Trini culture.

Self Portraits, by Funso Aiyejina, interviews with contemporary West Indian writers.