Two authors, one Jamaican-born but living overseas, the other born in London, England of Jamaican parentage, have recently published novels set in Jamaica. Both books focus on Jamaican families, but from different angles.

Lorna Goodison, widely acclaimed for her poetry (Controlling The Silver, Heartease, Travelling Mercies) brings her brand of lyricism to From Harvey River. The new book melds fiction and family history, and centres on Goodison's mother Doris (or Dorice), one of five girls (eight children in all) born to her grandmother Margaret and David Harvey.
The narrative traces the family's roots to English (and Irish) settlers in the rural Hanover district - and the river - of the title, that still bears their name, and follows the various triumphs, adventures and tragedies of the Harvey children, and with them, the history of the island.

Londoner Alex Wheatle, who made the transition from sound system selector to successful novelist (Brixton Rock, East Of Acre Lane), also focusses on women growing up in rural Jamaica, this time in St Ann. Island Songs, traces the lives of sisters Jenny and Hortense Rodney, as they transit from Claremont to Kingston's Trench Town and then later, off to England.

Wheatle uses the sisters' story to explore issues of tradition vs modernity, family loyalties, religion and the role of the church in Jamaican community life and others.

From Harvey River is published by McClelland & Stewart and Island Songs by Allison & Busby (A&B) books.

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