Peter Ducksworth, a Trinidadian widower of English ancestry, retires to Barbados, believing he will find an earthly paradise there. He decides to divide his land among his three daughters while he is alive, his intention not unlike that of King Lear's who hoped, "That future strife / May be prevented now." But Lear made the fatal mistake of confusing flattery with love, and so does Ducksworth. Feeling snubbed by his youngest daughter, Ducksworth decides that only after he dies will she receive her portion of the land. In the meantime, he gives his two older daughters their portions, ironically setting in motion the very strife he hoped to prevent. Beautifully written in elegant prose, this is a novel about greed, resentment, jealousy, betrayal, and romantic love, through which Nunez weaves themes of racism and classism in the postcolonial world of the Caribbean, giving us a diverse cast of characters of African, Indian, Chinese, Syrian/Lebanese, and English ancestry.
Download and start listening now!
Be the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Elizabeth Nunez is the author of various novels, including Discretion, Bruised Hibiscus, Grace, and Prospero’s Daughter. Born in Trinidad, Nunez is a CUNY Distinguished Professor of English at Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York, as well as the winner of an American Book Award. She lives in Amityville, New York.
Corey Allen, an Earphones Award-winning narrator, has been labeled by artistic collaborators as a “journeyman” and “chameleon-like” actor, relentless in his pursuit of truth and transformation in his work. As a voiceover artist, his talents have been heard in sound plays, commercial copy, industrial and documentary films, and many audiobooks. He is based in New York City and is a founding member of Coyote REP. He holds a BA from the University of California–Irvine and an MFA from the University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign.