The Stranger Who Was Myself

Barbara Jenkins

Summary

Barbara Jenkins writes about the experiences of a personal and family-centred life in Trinidad with great psychological acuteness, expanding on the personal with a deep awareness of the economic, social and cultural contexts of that experience. She writes about a childhood and youth located in the colonial era and an adult life that began at the very point of Trinidad's independent nationhood, a life begun in poverty in a colonial city going through rapid change. It is about a life that expanded in possibility through an access to an education not usually available to girls from such an economic background. This schooling gave the young Barbara Jenkins the intense experience of being an outsider to Trinidad's hierarchies of race and class. She writes about a life that has gender conflict at its heart, a household where her mother was subject to beatings and misogynist control, but also about strong matriarchal women.
As for so many Caribbean people, opportunity appeared to exist only via migration, in her case to Wales in the 1960s. But there was a catch in the arrangement that the years in Wales had put to the back of her mind: the legally enforceable promise to the Trinidadian government that in return for their scholarship, she had to return. She did, and has lived the rest of her life to date in Trinidad, an experience that gives her writing an insider/outsider sharpness of perception.
'From her childhood in colonial Port of Spain, to becoming a migrant student and young mother in Wales and then returning to Trinidad post-Independence, Jenkins tells her own life story with the emotional sensitivity of a natural storyteller, the insight of a philosopher, the scope of a historian and the good humour of a Trini. This beautifully written and moving memoir will feel achingly familiar to anyone who knows what it is like to navigate race, class and girlhood while growing up in the West Indies, anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.' Ayanna Lloyd Banwo, author of When We Were Birds.

Available since: 11/10/2022.

Print length: 290 pages.

Other books that might interest you

Afghanistan Sniper - Trauma on...

Ted Shirley

The war in Afghanistan had grown to its most violent of times, and Helmand Province had made for some of the bloodiest battles. With their departure to the front lines fast approaching, a Welsh infantry battalion was in the process of selecting their very best men to be put forward for sniper training.The young Welshmen selected grew to become the closest of friends as they navigated their way through the difficult sniper cadre. After losing one of their own to the Taliban shortly after the course, Ted and the rest of the lads deployed to Helmand Province and the raging war for the second time. Follow their journey as they take on the Taliban, from enemy snipers to Taliban leaders. Deploying on the biggest air assault operation since the Second World War, they made shots from a mile away and even took out two enemy fighters with one round. They were battle winners, and they earned their title of sniper, but it was not without cost.As the tour in Afghanistan came to an end, Ted began to feel the effects of what will later be diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder, and it quickly took over his life, sending him on a downward spiral. This was a humbling, terrifying experience which lasted for over a decade, and very nearly took his life. With an uninspiring diagnosis of no known cure, Ted decides to take control of his life and find his own solutions, in this riveting story.With detailed accounts of the unravelling of his mind and intricate insights into the taking of a life with the squeeze of a trigger, Afghanistan Sniper takes listeners through a journey of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows known only to those who have been on that same journey.A supplemental PDF will be available to download with your purchase

Show book

Alexander Hamilton Biography -...

Drew T Maxwell

Alexander Hamilton: The Untold Biography of America’s Most Influential Founding Father—The Visionary Who Shaped Its Financial System and Birthed Modern Democracy
Step into the remarkable life of one of America’s most brilliant and controversial Founding Fathers—Alexander Hamilton. This compelling and richly detailed biography reveals the untold story behind the man whose ideas and determination helped shape the economic and political foundation of the United States.
Born into poverty in the Caribbean, Hamilton rose through sheer intellect, ambition, and relentless drive to become one of the most influential figures in early American history. His journey from an orphaned immigrant to the nation’s first Secretary of the Treasury is nothing short of extraordinary. With visionary thinking and bold policies, Hamilton built the framework for America’s financial system—establishing principles that still influence modern banking, fiscal policy, and economic growth.
In this powerful biography, Drew T. Maxwell traces Hamilton’s rise during the American Revolution and his crucial role in shaping the young republic. Readers will explore his influential writings, his defense of the U.S. Constitution, and his bold vision for a strong federal government. The book also examines Hamilton’s intense rivalry with Thomas Jefferson and the political battles that helped define the direction of the new nation.
Yet Hamilton’s life was not without turmoil. Marked by political conflict, public scandal, and personal struggles, he remained a figure of fascination and debate. His dramatic death in a duel with Aaron Burr only deepened the legend surrounding his life.
Blending historical insight with engaging storytelling, this book offers readers a deeper understanding of a founding father whose influence still shapes modern America. Discover the ambition, ideas, and legacy of the man who helped build a nation.

Show book

Atlantic Narratives: Modern...

Various

This book, published in 1918 by the Atlantic Monthly Press, is a collection of 23 "modern short stories", written by various authors as follows: Cornelia A. P. Comer, Amy Wentworth Stone, Elizabeth Ashe, Dallas Lore Sharp, H. G. Dwight, Mary Lerner, Charles Caldwell Dobie, Henry Seidel Canby, Zephine Humphrey, Katharine Fullerton Gerould, Katharine Butler, Madeleine Z. Doty, F. J. Louriet, Ernest Starr, C. A. Mercer, Margaret Sherwood, E. Nesbit, E. V. Lucas, Margaret Lynn, Margaret Prescott Montague, and Arthur Russell Taylor. This audio compilation begins with the stories themselves, each Section followed by the editor's Biographical and Interpretative Notes, and at the end of the collection, the book's lengthy Introduction is included for the benefit of scholars who may be interested in editor Charles Swain Thomas' detailed opinions on what makes a short story compelling and why women excel in this genre. (Summary by Michele Fry)

Show book

Surviving the Man of God

Michael Oglesby Sr.

This audiobook is narrated by an AI Voice.   
In a memoir of transcendence, a man recounts his journey from a youth overshadowed by religious zealotry to a profound awakening. Battling poverty, manipulation, and a stringent faith, he breaks free from psychological shackles to find self-worth and identity. With each struggle, from a brother's escape to winning a custodial battle, the narrative blooms into an anthem of resilience and reclamation of the self, offering a reverent nod to the human spirit's indomitable force and the quest for truth and freedom.

Show book

Deputy know your rights - a...

Alfred Anderson

Do you feel intimidated or confused when you encounter a law enforcement officer? 
Do you know how to protect your constitutional rights in any situation? 
Do you want to learn from the real-life experiences of a retired deputy who has seen it all? 
In today’s world, where the relationship between law enforcement and the public is often strained and misunderstood, it is vital to know your rights and responsibilities as a citizen. You also need to understand the perspective and challenges of the officers who are sworn to protect and serve you. 
That’s why Deputy Anderson wrote this book. He wanted to share his stories and insights from his career as a law enforcement officer. He wanted to educate and inform you about the laws and procedures that govern police interactions with the public. He wanted to help you avoid unnecessary conflicts and misunderstandings with the authorities

Show book

Under Pressure - Living Life and...

Richard Humphreys

This is the world of the submariner. This is life under pressure.What’s it like to spend three months without sunlight, sharing what little space you have with over a hundred fellow crewmen and more firepower than all the bombs dropped in World War II combined? This is the world of the submariner. This is life under pressure.As a restless and adventurous eighteen-year-old, Richard Humphreys joined the Royal Navy submarine service. For five years during the Cold War, he served on the nuclear sub HMS Resolution. Nothing could have prepared him for life beneath the waves. He existed in a world without natural light, surrounded by 140 other men, all eating the same food, breathing the same air, smelling the same putrid smells and surviving together in some of the most forbidding conditions imaginable.Based on Humphreys’ firsthand experience, Under Pressure is the candid, visceral and incredibly entertaining account of what it’s like to live, work, sleep and eat—and stay sane—in one of the most extreme man-made environments on the planet.

Show book