Sam Selvon's Dialectal Style and Fictional Strategy

Sam Selvon, a contemporary writer of major importance, is well knownto British and Caribbean readers, but his work -- including ten novels-- has not attained the prominence it deserves internationally.

This study is a literary analysis of Selvon's use of TrinidadCreole English as an important component of his style and method offictional composition. Wyke follows the development of Selvon'swriting from his early to his late career, starting with his firstnovel, A Brighter Sun (1952), continuing with The LonelyLondoners (1956) and the short stories Ways of Sunlight(1957), and devoting a large part of the book to Selvon's middleand later years, focusing on such novels as I Hear Thunder(1963), The Housing Lark (1965), and Those Who Eat theCascadura (1972). He finishes with the last two works ofSelvon's trilogy, Moses Ascending (1975) and MosesMigrating (1983).

The book reveals Selvon as a serious pioneer in the use of dialectin narration instead of mainly in the dialogue of novels and otherfiction writing. Wyke's concise and penetrating analysis ofindividual novels and short stories, including the lyrical story'My Girl and the City,' and his demonstration of features ofTrinidad Creole English as a versatile tool in the hands of a novelist,will appeal to literary critics as well as to those who are interestedin the relationship between linguistics and literary criticism.Selvon's work often combines an interesting and humorous, yetserious, portrayal of the Commonwealth experience which will soundfamiliar to Caribbean, English, and Canadian audiences. This book willintroduce new readers to his oeuvre and will be particularly appealingto those examining the connection between the Caribbean, Canada, andBritain -- places where Selvon has lived and from where he draws therich material he uses to create his art.