An Introduction to West Indian Poetry

An Introduction to West Indian Poetry Review

Laurence A. Breiner's text, An Introduction to West Indian Poetry, is an important resource to the field of Caribbean Literature, specifically, and World Literature, generally. While the book is seen by many scholars and reviewers as a major resource for scholars "new" to the discipline, the text provides a solid, if cursory, historical base for those who touch upon the study of Caribbean poetry/literature in World Literature and Culture classes. Breiner has given the scholar a departure point for further historical investigation of the literature. More importantly, this work should urge scholars to put down their "historical shovels" for a while in the pursuit of a more lucid aesthetic understanding of Caribbean poetry. While the canon of Caribbean poetry dates back to the 18th century, there is still a limited body of critical work on Caribbean Poetics. Perhaps, Breiner's synthesis of the literary history should assist in moving scholars beyond further historicizing into aesthetic and theoretical arenas of investigation.

Dr. Emily Allen Williams Morehouse College Atlanta, GA 30314-3773 This introduction to West Indian poetry is written for readers making their first approach to the poetry of the Caribbean written in English. It offers a comprehensive literary history from the 1920s to the 1980s, with particular attention to the relationship of West Indian poetry to European, African and American literature. Close readings of individual poems give detailed analysis of social and cultural issues at work in the writing. Laurence Breiner's exposition speaks powerfully about the defining forces in Caribbean culture from colonialism to resistance and decolonization.