Description
The Middle Passage: The Caribbean Revisited is a travel book by V.S. Naipaul, first published in 1962. It is Naipaul’s first book-length work of non-fiction and is considered a classic of travel literature.
The book covers a year-long journey Naipaul took through Trinidad, British Guiana, Surinam, Martinique, and Jamaica in 1961. As well as giving his own impressions, Naipaul refers to the work of earlier travellers such as Patrick Leigh Fermor, who described a similar itinerary in The Traveller’s Tree (1950).
Naipaul’s journey through the Caribbean is a journey of discovery, both of the region and of himself. He is struck by the poverty and squalor of the region, and by the legacy of slavery and colonialism. He is also critical of the political leaders of the region, whom he sees as corrupt and self-serving.
Despite his criticisms, Naipaul is also moved by the beauty of the Caribbean and by the resilience of its people. He is particularly interested in the Indian diaspora in the Caribbean, and he explores the ways in which Indians have adapted to their new homelands.
The Middle Passage is a complex and nuanced book that challenges both Western stereotypes of the Caribbean and the region’s own self-image. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the Caribbean or in travel literature.
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