Trinidad Books

A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago

By Richard Ffrench, John P. O'Neill (Illustrator), Don R. Eckelberry (Illustrator)
Completely updates previous editions with revised and expanded text. Covers over 400 species found on these islands off the north coast of South America. Species accounts include habitat, status, range, voice, food, nesting, and behaviour. Colour plates in separate section illustrate over 300 species. A guide to the richest area for birdlife in the Caribbean where nearly all South American birds can be found. It covers the history of ornithology in the islands, the bird's different habitats and status, range and subspecies, field description, food, nesting and behaviour. Purchase Now!

A House for Mr. Biswas

By V. S. Naipaul
The early masterpiece of V. S. Naipaul’s brilliant career, A House for Mr. Biswas is an unforgettable story inspired by Naipaul's father that has been hailed as one of the twentieth century's finest novels. In his forty-six short years, Mr. Mohun Biswas has been fighting against destiny to achieve some semblance of independence, only to face a lifetime of calamity. Shuttled from one residence to another after the drowning death of his father, for which he is inadvertently responsible, Mr. Biswas yearns for a place he can call home. But when he marries into the domineering Tulsi family on whom he indignantly becomes dependent, Mr. Biswas embarks on an arduous–and endless–struggle to weaken their hold over him and purchase a house of his own. A heartrending, dark comedy of manners, A House for Mr. Biswas masterfully evokes a man’s quest for autonomy against an emblematic post-colonial canvas. Purchase Now!

East Indians in Trinidad: A Study of Cultural Persistence

By Morton Klass, Conrad M. Arensberg (Designer)
The earliest (and perhaps the most thorough) community study of East Indians, this work remains valuable in debates dealing with cultural persistence and colonial society. It represents a clear statement on a consequential social problem--the incomplete incorporation of the East Indian (i.e., non-Creole) population into Trinidadian (i.e., West Indian) society. Purchase Now!

Callaloo, Calypso and Carnival: The Cuisines of Trinidad and Tobago

By Dave Dewitt, Mary Jane Wilan
Callaloo, Calypso & Carnival is the only book on the fascinating, multi-cultural cuisines of the country of Trinidad & Tobago. Mostly a cookbook, it is part travel guide and celebration of the music and spirit of the country. The book explores the food traditions of Trinidad & Tobago, which combine African, East Indian, European, Chinese, and Native American elements. There are more than 100 recipes--most highly spiced--that cover everything from classic Pepperpot to Curried Lobster. In addition to all the food, the book explores the unique musical history of Trinidad & Tobago that culminates in one of the greatest Carnival celebrations anywhere in the world. There is a glossary of Trinidad & Tobago food terms, a bibliography, and a discography. This book is a must for lovers of all things Caribbean. Purchase Now!

A Wave in Her Pocket: Stories from Trinidad

By Lynn Joseph, Brian Pinkney (Illustrator)
The author of Coconut Kind of Day (1990) returns to the Caribbean to present a series of six vignettes featuring traditional folklore. The storyteller is Tantie, a great-aunt who is larger-than-life to narrator Amber and her cousins. Tantie has a tale for every occasion: one about the witch-like soucouyant for a picnic; one featuring Ligahoo, a powerful shape-changer, for the rainy season; or one about graveyard jumbies to explain the absence of neighbors. The most affecting narratives are the title story, concerning Tantie's lost love, and another about her encounter with papa Bois, a beloved figure in Trinidad. Less formal folktales than flavorful slices of life, all shaped into a continuous narrative uniting the family with stories. An afterword tells more about the legends. Pinkney's skillfully evocative b&w scratchboard illustrations nicely match the spirit of the text. An entertaining introduction to a relatively unfamiliar folk tradition. Purchase Now!