The Desire to Escape: A Reflection on the Neocolonial Bearings on Trinidadian Literary Landscape

Title

The Desire to Escape: A Reflection on the Neocolonial Bearings on Trinidadian Literary Landscape

Creator

Ramesh, Gopika L.; Sharon, J.

Description

Under waning colonial power, the second half of twentieth century witnessed mass-migration from the Caribbean to the metropolitan centre of Britain. This generation was called the windrush generation, and included prominent writers and authors from the island nation of Trinidad like V.S Naipaul, Samuel Selvon, among others. The article explores the neocolonial factors that drove these literary migrations and its subsequent influence on the literary contributions of these writers. It discusses, in brief, the idiosyncrasies of their circumstances in comparison to that of home-grown authors like Earl Lovelace. The paper concludes with insights into the contemporary status of this development and its implications. This paper has drawn information from primary sources (fictions of the above-mentioned writers) and secondary sources including author interviews, critical essays, newspaper articles, blogs, among others, to validate the study. 2024 selection and editorial matter, Dr. L. Santhosh Kumar, Ms. Minu A., Dr. Barnashree Khasnobis, Dr. Preetha M. and Dr. Merrin R. S.; individual chapters, the contributors.

Source

Neocolonialism: Re-Presenting Narratives, Realities and Responses;pp.49-53

Date

01-01-2026

Publisher

Taylor and Francis

Subject

Caribbean; Literary migration; Neocolonialism; Trinidad; Windrush generation

Coverage

Ramesh G.L., Christ University, Karnataka, Bengaluru, India; Sharon J., Christ University, Karnataka, Bengaluru, India

Rights

Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library

Relation

ISBN: 978-104085419-8; 978-104120987-4;

Format

online

Language

English

Type

Book chapter

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003725138-10

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024637489?origin=resultslist