Playwrights of The Week

Earl Lovelace: Embrace Your Cultural Heritage or Embark on The Promising Rewards of Assimilation

Earl Lovelace is a Trinidadian novelist, journalist, playwright, and short story writer.
He is noted for his contribution to the literature of Trinidad and Tobago. His descriptive fiction about West Indian culture combined with Trinidadian speech patterns intermingled with Standard English helps to underline social changes and clash between urban and rural culture in his native country.

He deals with customs and beliefs of the region, such as the rejuvenating effects of carnival on the inhabitants of a slum on the outskirts of Port of Spain, popular religion in rural areas, but also, he explores the legacy of colonialism and slavery and the problems still faced by the country. His characters are forced to choose between their own cultural heritage and promising rewards of assimilation.

 

Additional Reading: Writers History 

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