
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
Jamaica used to be the source of much of Britain's wealth, an island where slaves grew sugar and the money flowed in vast quantities. It was a tropical paradise for the planters, a Babylonian exile for the Africans shipped to the Caribbean. It became independent in 1962.
Jamaica is now a country in despair. It has become a cockpit of gang warfare, drug crime and poverty. Haunted by the legacy of imperialism, its social and racial divisions seem entrenched. Its extraordinary musical tradition and physical beauty are shadowed by casual murder, police brutality and political corruption.
Ian Thomson shows a side of Jamaica that tourists rarely see in their gated enclaves. He travelled country roads in buses and met ordinary Jamaicans in their homes and workplaces; and his encounters with the white elite, who still own most of Jamaica's businesses and newspapers, are unforgettable. Thomson brings alive the country's unique racial and ethnic mix; the all-pervading influence of the USA; and the increasing disillusionment felt by its people, who can't rely on the state for their most basic security. At the heart of the book is Jamaica's tense, uneasy relationship with Britain, to whom it remains politically and culturally bound.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Dedication
- Table of Contents
- Epigraph
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction: A History of Paradise
- Chapter One: (Black Man) in Hammersmith Palais
- Chapter Two: Trench Town Mix Up
- Chapter Three: Strictly Come Dancehall
- Chapter Four: Slaving
- Chapter Five: Massa Day Done?
- Chapter Six: I’ve Got to Go Back Home
- Chapter Seven: Forward Unto Zion
- Chapter Eight: Maximum Black
- Chapter Nine: Stranded on Death Row
- Chapter Ten: The Negotiator
- Chapter Eleven: Blood and Fire
- Chapter Twelve: Revival Time
- Chapter Thirteen: Don’t Call Us Immigrants
- Chapter Fourteen: English Upbringing, Background Caribbean
- Chapter Fifteen: Everything Crash
- Chapter Sixteen: Nanny Knew Best
- Chapter Seventeen: The Killing of a Chinese Shopkeeper
- Chapter Eighteen: 007 (Shanty Town)
- Chapter Nineteen: Sitting in Limbo
- Chapter Twenty: Police and Thieves
- Chapter Twenty One: Night Nurse
- Chapter Twenty Two: Scotland Yard
- Chapter Twenty Three: Herbsman Hustle
- Chapter Twenty Four: Investors in People (‘Cargo’)
- Chapter Twenty Five: Lord Creator
- Chapter Twenty Six: Life of Contradiction
- Epilogue Take Down the Union Jack
- Further Reading
- Index
- About the Author
- By the Same Author
- Copyright