Gloria
Gloria by Kerry Young, published by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc in 2014, is a UK edition that spans 400 pages. This novel follows the life of Gloria Campbell, who, at the age of sixteen, experiences a life-altering event that forces her and her sister to leave their hometown for Kingston. Set against the backdrop of Jamaica’s political upheaval, the story explores Gloria’s journey as she navigates her new environment, encounters complex relationships, and grapples with her identity amidst societal changes.
Readers will find an engaging narrative that delves into themes of love, redemption, and social justice. As Gloria becomes involved with figures like Sybil and Beryl, her experiences lead her to a deeper understanding of her own desires and the political landscape of her country. The book presents a vivid portrayal of Jamaica during a transformative period, highlighting both personal struggles and broader societal tensions. Through Gloria’s eyes, the narrative offers insights into the challenges faced by women in mid-20th century Jamaica, making it a significant addition to the genres of historical fiction and world literature.
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‘Kerry Young is a standalone talent in the new emerging generation of writers from the Caribbean region. Read her if you want to know about the Caribbean’ – Monique Roffey, winner of the OCM BOCAS Prize for Caribbean Literature
‘A vivid portrayal … Kerry Young’s heartfelt, sparky and affecting debut novel is a chronicle of multicultural Jamaica, both in its cultural richness and in its strife and tensions’ – Guardian
‘A pacy but absorbing saga of domestic struggle and gangland manoeuvring set against the violent backdrop of postwar Jamaican politics’ – Independent on Sunday
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From the author of the Costa and Commonwealth Prize-shortlisted Pao
Jamaica, 1938. Gloria Campbell is sixteen years old when a single violent act changes her life forever. She and her younger sister flee their hometown to forge a new life in Kingston. As all around them the city convulses with political change, Gloria’s desperation and striking beauty lead her to Sybil and Beryl, and a house of ill-repute where she meets Yang Pao, a Kingston racketeer whose destiny becomes irresistibly bound with her own.
Sybil kindles in Gloria a fire of social justice which will propel her to Cuba and a personal and political awakening that she must reconcile with the realities of her life, her love of Jamaica and a past that is never far behind her.
Set against the turbulent backdrop of a country on the cusp of a new era, Gloria is an enthralling and illuminating story of love and redemption.
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‘Gloria is a brilliant, observant, sometimes complex read, but with clear and simple messages, it speaks to the feminist and equal rights campaigner in all of us *****’ – Western Mail
‘A very authentic portrayal of a woman’s lot in 1950s, 1960s Jamaica. I fell in love with Gloria and was turning over the pages rapidly, willing her to conquer her situation. A triumph’ – Alex Wheatle, author of Brenton Brown
‘A highly evocative portrait of a country in transition, and of one woman’s search for self-awareness and self-respect’ – Mail on Sunday
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