Mr. Loverman

Evaristo writes about modern Britain like no one else. In this novel, Bernardine Evaristo once again demonstrates why she is one of the most important voices in contemporary British literature. Her distinctive writing style, dry humor, and keen insight into the interplay of interpersonal relationships and societal expectations come together in Mr. Loverman for an unparalleled exploration of the Caribbean community in England.

Barrington Jedidiah Walker, born and raised in Antigua, loves his retro suits and has the perfect Shakespeare quote ready for every occasion. He leads a quiet life with his wife Carmel in Hackney: two adult children, a cozy home, retirement. However, beneath the perfect surface, Barry lives a double life. Since childhood, he has loved his friend Morris, who, like him, emigrated to England as a young man—and Morris loves him back. The deeply religious and bitterly disappointed Carmel suspects that her husband is cheating on her, but she has no idea with whom.

As their marriage heads toward the inevitable abyss, Barry decides that he wants to finally live openly with Morris. But is that possible after all those years of hidden existence? Mr. Loverman exposes the misconceptions we fall prey to in our lives. What consequences must we face if we want to remain true to ourselves? And what if the fear of those consequences is simply too great?

Anyone who has not yet read Evaristo's books should definitely change that—she writes about modern Britain like no one else. A brilliant and, as Mr. Barrington Walker, Esq. himself might have admitted, remarkably astute character study of modern London. The specter of homosexuality has a long tradition in the West Indies—Bernardine Evaristo addresses each aspect of it.