Small Island

Small Island by bestselling author Andrea Levy won the Orange Prize for Fiction and the Orange Prize 'Best of the Best' as well as the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and the Whitbread. Possibly the definitive fictional account of the experiences of the Empire Windrush generation, it was selected by the BBC as one of its '100 Novels That Shaped Our World'.'A great read... honest, skilful, thoughtful and important' GuardianIt is 1948, and England is recovering from a war. But at 21 Nevern Street, London, the conflict has only just begun. Queenie Bligh's neighbours don't approve when she agrees to take in Jamaican lodgers, but with her husband, Bernard, not back from the war, she has little choice in the matter. Gilbert Joseph was one of the many Jamaican men who joined the RAF to fight Hitler. But when he returns to England as a civilian he doesn't receive the welcome he was expecting, and it's desperation that drives him to knock at Queenie's door. Gilbert's wife Hortense, who for years has longer for a better life in England, soon joins him. But London is far from the golden city of her dreams, and even Gilbert is not the man she thought he was. Small Island explores a point in England's past when the country began to change. In this delicately wrought and profoundly moving novel, Andrea Levy handles the weighty themes of empire, prejudice, war and love, with a superb lightness of touch and generosity of spirit.'An engrossing read - slyly funny, passionately angry and wholly involving' Daily Mail'Gives us a new urgent take on our past' Vogue Small Island By Bestselling Author Andrea Levy Won The Orange Prize For Fiction, As Well As Many Other Awards, Including The Commonwealth Writers' Prize And The Whitbread. Now A Major Bbc Drama Starring Benedict Cumberbatch And Naomie Harris, Its Enduring Appeal Will Captivate Fans Of Maya Angelou And Zadie Smith. 'a Great Read... Honest, Skilful, Thoughtful And Important' - Guardian It Is 1948, And England Is Recovering From A War. But At 21 Nevern Street, London, The Conflict Has Only Just Begun. Queenie Bligh's Neighbours Do Not Approve When She Agrees To Take In Jamaican Lodgers, But Queenie Doesn't Know When Her Husband Will Return, Or If He Will Come Back At All. What Else Can She Do? Gilbert Joseph Was One Of The Several Thousand Jamaican Men Who Joined The Raf To Fight Against Hitler. Returning To England As A Civilian He Finds Himself Treated Very Differently. It's Desperation That Makes Him Remember A Wartime Friendship With Queenie And Knock At Her Door. Gilbert's Wife Hortense, Too, Had Longed To Leave Jamaica And Start A Better Life In England. But When She Joins Him She Is Shocked To Find London Shabby, Decrepit, And Far From The Golden City Of Her Dreams. Even Gilbert Is Not The Man She Thought He Was...