"I see trouble. Plenty trouble."

The village obeahman Manko foresees trouble when an English-man Garry Johnson comes to stay in the cacao estate of his friend Roger Franklin in Trinidad. Before long his prophecy is fulfilled when the visitor falls in love with the lovely Indian Sarojini. What had been a carefree atmosphere quickly evaporates, replaced with a tension-filled air of jealousies, rivalries and intrigues as three races interact in post-independence Trinidad.

Sam Selvon's profile page

Sam Selvon (1923 - 1994) was born in Trinidad and moved to Britain in 1950. His first novel, A Brighter Sun, was published in 1952, bringing him instant recognition. He spent more than twenty years in the UK where he wrote most of his major works. The Lonely Londoners, his novel about West Indian immigrants in postwar London, is considered a modern classic. His other novels include Moses Ascending and Moses Migrating. He left the UK in 1978 for Canada where he settled with his family in Calgary, Alberta.

"Selvon writes with great charm." --The New York Times

"A ... lyrical, moving writer." --New Statesman

"His evocative descriptions . . . his humourous affectionate portrayal of character and his subtle use of folklore . . . are evidence of a master yarn-spinner." --The Globe and Mail