Author | Samuel Selvon |
---|---|
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Publisher | Longmans (UK) St Martin's Press (US) |
Publication date | 1956 |
Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
Pages | 142 pp |
OCLC | 65467567 |
It was a sunny day in LA and it was peaceful in Cat's apartment and Cat was alone studying, Sam had gone out to find some eat and possibly went abroad to meet her friends in Seattle or to meet Carly in Italy. For me it has to be because a poem is the highest form of language. Never Miss a Story Sign up for Texas Monthly's State of Texas newsletter to get stories like this delivered to your inbox daily.
The Lonely Londoners is a 1956 novel by Trinidadian author Samuel Selvon. Its publication was one of the first to focus on poor, working-class blacks following the enactment of the British Nationality Act 1948 alongside George Lamming'sThe Emigrants (1954).
Overview[edit]
The book details the life of West Indians in post-World War IILondon, a city the immigrants consider the 'centre of the world.' [1] Covering a period of roughly three years, The Lonely Londoners has no plot in the usual sense of the term. Rather, the novel follows a limited number of characters of the 'Windrush generation', all of them 'coloureds', through their daily lives in the capital. The various threads of action form a whole through the unifying central character of Trinidadian Moses Aloetta, a veteran émigré who, after more than ten years in London, has still not achieved anything of note and whose homesickness increases as he gets older. Every Sunday morning 'the boys', many a recent arrival among them, come together in his rented room to trade stories and inquire after those whom they have not seen for a while. Not surprisingly, their lives mainly consist of work (or looking for a job) and various petty pleasures. Dating young white women is at the top of the list, as is hanging around prostitutes.
Social commentary[edit]
A recurring theme in Selvon's character development addresses upward social mobility. This mobility, however, is clouded by the character's designation as the 'other'. Selvon's characters are offered the worst jobs, they are exploited by housing landlords, and romance for these characters oftentimes only includes sex. Their accents and skin colour mark them as outsiders and force them to form a group identity based on the principle of congregation via segregation. This analysis allows the reader to better understand the self-hate, disappointment, and struggle that haunts Selvon's characters. The protagonist, Moses, describes London as a lonely city that 'divide[s] up in little worlds, and you stay in the world where you belong to and you don't know anything about what is happening in the other ones except what you read in the papers.'[2] Against a backdrop of invisibility, many of the characters struggle with a sense of failed promise. By looking at the various coping mechanisms: sex, lavish spending, drinking, hard work, appeasing white women, etc., the author ultimately conveys the unity in their experience. Regardless of their actions, a certain sense of stagnancy prevails. Moses says: '..I just lay there on the bed thinking about my life, how after all these years I ain't get no place at all, I still the same way, neither forward nor backward.'[3]
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Helon Habila has noted: 'One imagines immediately the loneliness that must have gnawed at these immigrants whose memory of their sunny, convivial island communities was their only refuge at such moments. https://mmolucky.netlify.app/blacklisted-online-casino-players.html. But although this is a book about exile and alienation, it is not a sad book. Even when his characters are under-going the direst of tribulations, Selvon has a way of capturing the humour in the situation.. The message of The Lonely Londoners is even more vital today than in 50s Britain: that, although we live in societies increasingly divided along racial, ideological and religious lines, we must remember what we still have in common - our humanity.'[4]
Narrative technique, language and style[edit]
The most striking feature of The Lonely Londoners is its narrative voice. Selvon started writing the novel in standard English but soon found out that such language would not aptly convey the experiences and the unarticulated thoughts and desires of his characters.[5][6] In creating a third person narrator who uses the same creolized form of English as the characters of the novel, Selvon added a new, multiculturalist dimension to the traditional London novel and enhanced the awareness in both readers and writers of a changing London society which could no longer be ignored. Thus, in style and context, The Lonely Londoners 'represented a major step forward in the process of linguistic and cultural decolonization.' [7]
The language used by Selvon's characters and by the narrator contains a multitude of slang expressions. For example, when 'the boys' talk about 'the Water' or 'the Gate', they are referring to Bayswater and Notting Hill respectively. (Unlike today, the Notting Hill area evoked a down-at-heel area of cheap lodgings where Caribbean immigrants could more easily find accommodation than elsewhere in London, but be victims of practices like Rachmanism.) Sometimes referring to themselves and each other as 'spades', in their spare time they can be found 'liming'—the Caribbean pastime of hanging around with friends eating, talking and drinking—and some of their talk will be 'oldtalk', reminiscences of their previous lives in the West Indies and the exchange of news from home. Finally, a white English girl can be a 'skin' ('a sharp piece of skin'), a 'frauline' [sic], a 'cat', a 'number', or of course a 'chick' or 'white pussy'.
A remarkable passage within the novel about a typical London summer is written in the stream-of-consciousness mode, linking up Selvon with the modernist movement.[8]
Adaptations[edit]
- 1997: five-part abridgement by Margaret Busby, Book at Bedtime, BBC Radio 4, read by Rudolph Walker (10–14 March), produced by Ralph Rolls.[9]
- 2014: five-part abridgement by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths, Book at Bedtime, BBC Radio 4, read by Don Warrington, produced by Sara Davies.
See also[edit]
Other novels with the theme of the immigrant experience among Caribbeans in London:
- Warwick Collins: Gents (1997)
- Victor Headley: Yardie (1992)
- George Lamming: The Emigrants (1954)
- Andrea Levy: Small Island (2004)
- Colin MacInnes: City of Spades (1957) and Absolute Beginners (1959)
- V. S. Naipaul: The Mimic Men (1967)
- Caryl Phillips: The Final Passage (1985)
- Zadie Smith: White Teeth (2000)
References[edit]
- ^Samuel Selvon: The Lonely Londoners, p. 134.
- ^Samuel Selvon: The Lonely Londoners, p. 60.
- ^Samuel Selvon: The Lonely Londoners, p. 113.
- ^Helon Habila, 'Out of the Shadows', The Guardian, 17 March 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
- ^Susheila Nasta: 'Introduction'. Sam Selvon: The Lonely Londoners (Penguin Books: London, 2006), p. vi.
- ^Christian Mair (March 1989). 'Naipaul's Miguel Street and Selvon's Lonely Londoners – Two Approaches to the Use of Caribbean Creole in Fiction'. The Journal of Commonwealth Literature. 24 (1). doi:10.1177/002198948902400111. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- ^Susheila Nasta: 'Introduction'. Sam Selvon: The Lonely Londoners (Penguin Books: London, 2006), p. x.
- ^Samuel Selvon: The Lonely Londoners, pp. 92–102.
- ^Listings, Radio Times, Issue 3814, 10 March 1997, p. 115.
All page references are to the 2006 Penguin 'Modern Classics' edition.
Further reading[edit]
Sam And Cat Gambling Poem Free
- Susheila Nasta, 'Introduction'. Sam Selvon: The Lonely Londoners (London: Penguin Books, 2006), v-xvii.
- Helon Habila, 'Out of the Shadows', The Guardian (17 March 2007). Retrieved 7 August 2007.
- Moya Jones Petithomme, 'The Immigrant's Urban Tale .. 40 years On', Etudes Britanniques Contemporaines (1993). Retrieved 7 August 2007.
External links[edit]
- Naseem Khan, 'The rise of the lonely Londoners: When the writer Sam Selvon arrived in England in 1950, he came in on a tide of new West Indian creativity..', The Independent, 12 November 1993.
- Bill Schwarz, 'Samuel Selvon: 'The Lonely Londoners' - 1956' (on Selvon's representation of London), London Fictions
'UGH!' Cat screamed into her pillow, not sure who or what to do. Wow, Cat thought, that sounded wrong. 'I can't call Tori, she can't know, but she usually is the the only girly girl willing enough to give relationship advice!' Cat moaned. The red-head finally decided who to dial. She leaned back on her bed, and waited for the answer. 'Hello!' Shouted a voice on the other end. 'The Shays, please.' Cat said. 'SHAY, 314, CONNECT!' Cat winced at the volume, but waited patiently like a good Cat. 'Hello, the Shay residence.' Said a voice on the other line. 'GIVE ME THE PHONE SAM!' 'Whyy, is it your boooyfriend?' 'No!' Carly sputtered. Cat sighed. 'Sam it's me, Cat. Give Carly the phone.' 'It's for you.' Sam said. 'Noo, REALLY? Someone called my house to talk to ME?' Carly replied sarcastically. 'Hello?' 'Hey Carls, it's me, Cat.' 'Oh hey! So what's up?' Cat paused. 'Remember when I told you I was bi?' There was a pause. 'Oh yeah! How's that working out?' Cat smirked. 'Weeeell, actually, the guy I was dating, I dumped when this girl I have a crush on became free.' 'Ah. Well, talk to her! Break the ice!' Cat smirked a bit, remembering a memory with Jade. 'Oh come on Kitten, you'll be fine!' Jade shouted from the center of the ice. 'Easy for you to say, you did hockey!' Cat shouted back, terrified. Jade's face softened. 'I'm scared Jadey.' Cat said softly. Jade came over, picked Cat up, and spun with her. Then, she let go, and they both toppled over, Jade on the bottom. 'I'm sooo sorry, Jadey!' Cat shouted. She began to cry. 'No, no, don't cry Kitten!' Jade said frantically, sitting Cat on her lap. 'We broke the ice!' Jade began to laugh as she carried Cat off the melting ice. 'The ice is waaay past broken.' Cat told Carly. 'Well, talk. Ease your feelings. Oops-sorry, gotta go. Text me?' Cat smiled. 'Yeah, sure Carls.' She knew Carly wanted to be filled in on all the dating stuff. Then, Carly hung up.
Cat's POV, school the next morning:
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'Jade!' I shouted. 'Hey Cat.' Jade smiled. 'I have to ask you about homework.' I said awkwardly. Jade tilted her head, but gestured for me to continue. 'I'm really sorry about Beck…' I begin. Jade shrugs it off. 'No biggie.' I nod, confused, but continue. New york state online poker sites. 'Well, since you two aren't partners for the project, do you want to work with me?' I ask, timidly. Jade nods. 'Yeah, that'd be amazing.' She replies. 'Oh- and can we have a sleepover tonight?' It's not infrequently that I ask this, so it's not an odd request. 'I don't know…' 'Please?' I ask, making a pouty face. Jade crosses her arms.
Jade's POV:
'Please?' Cat begs. And then she pouts. HER POUT IS TOO ADORABLE. HOW DID SHE GET JADE WEST TO SAY ADORABLE? That's the magic of Cat. I cross my arms as if that'll protect me from being a pushover. I uncross my arms a few seconds later, and hug Cat. 'Ok.' She stands on her tip toes, and I notice Cat is wearing flats. Now a shoe choice isn't normally a big thing, but since Cat's tiny, she likes heels. Once I told her I thought she looked cuter in flats when I was picking out an outfit for her to go clubbing in. I had picked out a skirt that's hem came above the knee, and such of that nature, and I had said it looked endearing. But Cat doesn't know what that means, so she shrugged and changed. 'Jade?' Cat began to snap. 'Oh- sorry- umm, what time?' I ask dumbly, even though I already know. 8PM sharp. 'I don't know- 8, ok?' I nod. The bell rang, which saved me from saying what I was going to say, but I whispered it anyway, sure she wouldn't hear over the bell. And Cat didn't, instead, bounding off to her next class.
Cat's POV later that night, around 9'ish:
Sam And Cat Gambling Poem Printable
I smiled. I wanted Jade to have a good time, and I knew Jade was a partier, who didn't get drunk quickly or easily, so I sat across from her on the opposite couches we had set up as our beds, and giggled. 'Jadey?' I asked. Jade rolled over to face me. 'Yes Cat?' 'Can we go out?' I winced at the words I used, but Jade brushed it off. Instead, she focused on- 'Like clubbing? You?' I nodded happily. 'I guess, Kitten.' I clapped and began to run off, but Jade smirked. 'Can I pick your outfit out?' I nodded joyfully. Two words I knew were coming came out of Jade's mouth with a glint in her eye. 'Race ya.' I grinned, and we started up the stairs, opposite staircases, as we always did, smiling. When we got up, we were both panting, but Jade bolted through my door to my walk-in closet. She pondered for a moment, and then grabbed a silver, above the knee skirt with sparkles, and some flats. I remember Jade saying I looked adorable in flats. Well, she said I looked cuter in flats than heels, but I take that to mean very cute. Then, her face turned too thought once more. She pulled out a black and white polka dot tee and a pink tee, and quickly headed for the pink one. 'No!' I blurted. 'I mean, I like polka dots.' I smile with a slight pout, and Jade shrugs.
Jade's POV:
Cat pouts, and I shrug. I hand her the outfit I picked out, and she takes them gratefully, and begins to change in a corner, giggling the entire time. Sometimes I wonder… No, Jade- Cat is too innocent for that. She comes out, looking breathtaking, as always, aww… I'm so sappy, and gestures like a model. 'Soo?' Cat says. 'It's-' I pause and let all the suggestive words flood out of my mind. Endearing, sexy, engaging. 'Cute.' Cat squeals with excitement. 'Ok, let's go!' She shouts, beaming.
NO POV, I REAPEAT, NO POV:
Cat smiled, and walked toward the bar to get a drink. 'And what can I get the sexy lady on my right?' A guy asked Cat, drunkenly, slurring his words. Cat, like a good little actress, was polite. Turning to the bartender, she asked, 'Can I just get water and a red wine?' The bartender, a woman, nodded, and apologized to Cat for the man's actions. 'We get a lot of creeps here.' The woman said, shaking her head. 'Hi, I'm Cat.' Cat said, holding her hand out to shake. The woman smiled. 'Emma.' She said. Cat nodded. 'What is it like being a bartender?' Cat asked. 'Like I said, too many drunken slobs for me to enjoy it. I just need money.' Emma said.
STILL NO POV, JUST WITH JADE:
A guy came up to Jade, staring at her chest. 'Hey, my eyes are up here.' Jade said, snapping. 'Wanna move your eyes somewhere else?' The guy asked, trying to look determined. 'Not particularly.' Jade snapped. The man, probably much older than Jade, pushed her the foot into the bathroom, beginning to attempt to have sex.
(Haha, I know, stupid way of getting Jade in a sad situation. 'He looked determined.' Didn't rape her though, because he didn't get there yet, more just forcefully kissing and such)
Cat POV:
I turned to Emma from my water, and suddenly remembered. 'Jade! Oh, I have to get this wine to my friend. Bye!' Emma waved, and I headed to our table. Jade wasn't there, so I shrugged, taking the wine with me. I decided to head to the bathroom, to see if Jade was peeing or something. I pushed the bathroom door open, calling out her name. 'Jade? Jaaade? Are you in here?' I heard a moan, and headed towards that stall. 'Excuse me?' I knocked. 'Has whoever's in here heard a 'Jade' come in?' Jade's voice responded, sort of muffled, 'Kitten! In here!' I attempted to turn the handle, but it was locked. 'Not in the position to open it right now.' Jade's voice said, stifled again. I picked the lock, from years of watching Jade and Sam do it. Within seconds, the door was open, and I pushed through, with someone quickly pushing past me, I was sure was not Jade. Then I heard sobbing in the surprisingly large stall. I searched the entire thing, until I came upon a hooded figure. 'Jadey?' I whispered. She nodded. I sat next to her. 'What's wrong?' I expected a 'nothing', but got a- 'Some guy just tried to assault me.' I looked into her azure eyes. Ooh Cat, big words. Yeah, no. 'Jadey? Do you want to go home?' Jade shook her head. 'No. Is it ok if I stay at your place still?' I nod. 'Of course. Do you-' Jade interrupts me- 'Cat, I need to tell you something.' I nod. She breaths, then scoots towards me, and kisses me. I deepen the kiss, her wine in my hand. She picks me up onto her lap without breaking apart. When we finally pull apart, I'm in her lap, legs around her back, with her arms around my upper back. 'Just to tell you Kitten, that was real-' I smile and interrupt. ' It wasn't a pity kiss.' I giggle. She takes a breath. 'I wrote a poem.' Jade whispers, but I hear her. 'Can I hear it?' I see her begin to shake her head- 'But you're a good writer!' I protest. Jade smiles. 'You think so?' I nod. She beams, sitting me in a more comfortable position, and speaks. 'Alright.
With eyes of chocolate brown
And your adorableness
Helps keep me from a frown
Your beauty is beyond compare
With cupcake colored hair
Your ivory skin
Your smile is like a memory
I know it every time I see
Your voice is soft like summer rain
And no one can compare to you
My Cat'
I smiled softly, and hugged her as best as I could from my position. 'We should head back.' Jade says, grinning. I nod, and she puts me down. We both stand, and head out to the car. As I pass Emma, she winks and mouths, 'good luck with her'. When we're in the car, Jade smiles, and says, 'I know what I need to tell you now.' I nod. 'I'm a lesbian.' I nod. 'I'm bi.' I say. 'Have been for 7 years now. Only accepted it for 4 of those years.' I elaborate. 'Oh yeah, Jade?' 'Mmm Hmm?' 'You look perfect, even when you're crying. I'd use the word- endearing.' Jade blushes. 'I didn't know you know what it meant.' She said. 'So you know I've been a lesbian for 5 years?' Jade whispers. 'I do. I might have also sung things for youuuu…' I say, hugging her. 'Why don't we listen to the soundtrack for the newest Glee episode?' Jade asks. I awkwardly nod. First comes on 'I Kissed A Girl' and I smile. Jade sings quietly, then loudly, 'I'm curious for you, caught my attention.' Then, she pulls me into another kiss. When we break at the end of the song, I smirk. 'This song is quite appropriate.' Jade smirks as well. 'Actually, I might have sung Jolene at the talent show towards Beck for you…' I whisper. 'It was beautiful.' Jade whispers. She turns the dial to CD, and my voice comes on. 'Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Joooolene. I'm beggin' of ya please don't take my man. Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jooleene. Please don't take him just because you can.' It continues, and it begins to rain. On the way home, we get through the entire soundtrack, laughing, singing, and kissing at stoplights. I grab my old newspaper from the bottom of the car, fold it up, and hold it above me. Jade just runs inside. Suddenly, after putting my stuff down, I think of something. I bolt out the door, and Jade shakes her head, but runs after me. I grab her waist, and she bends her head down. We kiss in the rain, and when we pull apart, Jade is beaming. We begin to dance, and when we're done, Jade smiles softly. 'I've always wanted to do that.' She whispers. I cock my head. 'Kiss someone I love in the rain.' She whispers again. She's kissed Beck in the rain…
NO POV, CARLY'S HOUSE WHEN THEY'RE ALL OUT OF COLLEGE:
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'So, this is the girl?' Carly asks. Cat nods. Jade smiles, something she does more often now, and holds Cat's waist. Carly's boyfriend comes into the door. 'Hey babe.' He says happily, kissing Carly. Carly buries her nose in his clothes while they hug. Sam pops out of the kitchen. 'Same old Sam.' Cat smiles. 'Are you talkin bout Mama?' Sam holds her arms out. 'Come on, give Sammy a hug.' Says a voice coming from the stairs. Freddie walks down the stairs. Cat giggles and hugs Sam. Sam shakes her head, and runs to Freddie to playfully punch him. Freddie smirks and follows Jade's lead, holding Sam's waist. Sam leans into Freddie's shoulder. 'Cat, Sam, Jade, and Freddie, this is Luke, my new boyfriend.' Luke nods to everyone. 'I hear you do music.' Jade says. He nods. 'You?' He asks. 'Art, mostly, but some singing.' He nods. 'You're Cat Valentine!' 'Soon to be West.' Jade mutters so Cat can't hear her. Cat beams. 'Yep! This is Jade West.' Luke nods. 'You two are famous!' 'I'm not that good.' Jade mumbles. Cat playfully slaps Jade. 'You're too humble, honey. She's fantastic. One of her pieces was recently added to the Museum of Individual Art!' Cat says. 'Next to Spencer's.' Carly says proudly. 'Well, we ought to be out.' Cat says. 'Jadey hasn't told me what piece of art is there, and I want to see it!' Jade and Carly smile knowingly. Cat and Jade say their goodbyes, and head to the car. After the short drive, Jade escorted Cat to her piece through the VIP elevator. They got to the painting, and Jade pointed it out. Cat beamed. 'It's your poem- to art.' She said, and that really was the only way to describe it. Eyes, colors, mixes, it all fit with the poem that no one else knew. 'It's for me- ' Cat turned back towards Jade, who took out a ring, and got on one knee. 'Caterina Hannah Valentine. You have been with me through thick and thin, and I made it this far without marriage- but I want to make sure all the ends are tied. Will you marry me?' 'Yes! Yes, Jadey, yes!' Jade stood, and she put the ring on Cat's finger. 'It'll be soon.' Whispered Cat, who'd always wanted a winter wedding. Jade nodded. 'I know.'
Aww, aren't they adowable? I love it! Alright, so yes. CARLY AND SAM AND FREDDIE AS IN iCarly. Real quick little backstory, because the next story is going to be called The Wedding or The Planning or something like that… Okay, so Spencer's married, he lives near the MIA, in LA, with his wife and only child, a beautiful 10 year old girl who also likes art. Carly has been dating Luke for 8 months, and lives in an apartment in upper LA. Sam and Freddie live in the apartment they shared with Carly during college. Jade and Cat live in Northeast LA near the MIA as well, and often babysit for Spencer. Lots of backstories, maybe I will make a book of them- ok, bye!