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The Manley Memoirs
From stationmaster s daughter to wife of one of Jamaica s most charismatic prime ministers Beverley Manley s life has been an odyssey. As a young girl, starved of her mother s love because she was darker than her siblings, and forced to do housework while her sisters relaxed, Beverley was a modern-day Cinderella. Told incessantly that she was good for nothing, she defied her mother s prophecy, and triumphed over her ordinary beginnings first as a model in London and later becoming a household name in local radio, television and on stage. It was her path at the then Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) that would lead her directly to Michael Manley and to Jamaica House. Marriage to Michael also lead to her political awakening; not content with being the docile wife, Beverly assumed an activist role in the governing People s National Party (PNP), becoming embroiled in the ideological politics of the 1970s that would eventually lead to her estrangement from Michael, the destruction of their marriage, her flight into the arms of a rival lover and finally to a self-imposed exile in the US, where she took refuge from the ire of the Jamaican elite for daring to walk out on one of their own. But Beverly was to redeem herself and earn new respect as a broadcaster, commentator and incisive interviewer on the immensely popular and innovative Breakfast Club radio show. Now older and much wiser, Beverly tells it like it is in this intriguing and revealing memoir. It is a rags to riches story almost; a story of triumph and loss; of rising again and finally one of redemption.
284 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 31, 2018
For anyone who lived in Jamaica during the 1970's, or followed the politics of the region, this book by Michael Manley's wife Beverly is fascinating. She explains what was happening behind the scenes as the country devolved into near-bankruptcy and almost civil war. I loved her personal odyssey, as I had often wondered why a white Jamaican from the aristocracy ended up married to a very dark woman from a lower-middle-class background, something very uncommon at the time. The answer is clear from the book -- her courage, spunk, intelligence and utter dedication to the PNP, her family's political party (run by the Manleys). All this was less clear at the time, as the Gleaner, Jamaica's leading newspaper, did not always portray her in a favorable light.
I had a hard time selecting stars for this book, because of the varying quality of its different facets. Historically, it is an important book. As a documentation of the struggle for women's rights in the Third World, it is also important. And I really enjoyed her description of losing herself while married to a political super star -- and standing by him through numerous infidelities. What wounded her more than Manley's affairs (or so she writes) was the fact that he lied to her, and to the country, about negotiations with the IMF, which he had adamantly and publicly denied. I admired the fact that this was unforgivable to her, and brought on the emotional demise of her marriage.
However, the book is not that well written (and/or proofed). Many times, characters are mentioned before we're told who they are. Repeated words in paragraphs point to a need for further edits. She talks about Lulu singing the hit song "Downtown" when it was actually Petula Clark, and misspells the Beetles (sic). Sometimes words are capitalized in one instance, and then not a few lines later. These perhaps minor errors detract from the professionalism of the book. Also, she writes about a lot of things that would not make a lot of sense to people unfamiliar with Jamaican history or politics, and would need explaining if the book were to appeal to a wider audience.
One more tiny complaint. She calls the book "The Manley Memoirs", as if she were the most famous Manley instead of her husband or father-in-law, who is a National Hero. This felt a bit presumptuous to me. It would be sort of like Laura Bush entitling her own book "The Bush Memoirs".
Still, I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot.
I had a hard time selecting stars for this book, because of the varying quality of its different facets. Historically, it is an important book. As a documentation of the struggle for women's rights in the Third World, it is also important. And I really enjoyed her description of losing herself while married to a political super star -- and standing by him through numerous infidelities. What wounded her more than Manley's affairs (or so she writes) was the fact that he lied to her, and to the country, about negotiations with the IMF, which he had adamantly and publicly denied. I admired the fact that this was unforgivable to her, and brought on the emotional demise of her marriage.
However, the book is not that well written (and/or proofed). Many times, characters are mentioned before we're told who they are. Repeated words in paragraphs point to a need for further edits. She talks about Lulu singing the hit song "Downtown" when it was actually Petula Clark, and misspells the Beetles (sic). Sometimes words are capitalized in one instance, and then not a few lines later. These perhaps minor errors detract from the professionalism of the book. Also, she writes about a lot of things that would not make a lot of sense to people unfamiliar with Jamaican history or politics, and would need explaining if the book were to appeal to a wider audience.
One more tiny complaint. She calls the book "The Manley Memoirs", as if she were the most famous Manley instead of her husband or father-in-law, who is a National Hero. This felt a bit presumptuous to me. It would be sort of like Laura Bush entitling her own book "The Bush Memoirs".
Still, I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot.
June 20, 2021
I appreciate Beverley Manley's re-telling of her life in this brief memoir. I found most of this text intriguing and informative. The chapters I enjoyed the most were her reflections on her upbringing and description of her parents. Those were the most colorful chapters. The other section that I found engrossing was her description of her political life during the 1970s as the wife of Prime Minister Michael Manley and a formidable political activist herself.
At points in the book Manley failed to give adequate context to certain events or occurrences in her life. For example, when she begins writing about her extra-marital relationship with D. K. Duncan she failed to reveal that he was married. We learn that piece of information a few pages after she began this story-line. Other annoying tidbits occurred when Manley would began referring to someone by another name without warning. For example, she began referring to Michael Manley's father, Norman Washington Manley as NW out of the blue. She did the same with Edna Manley, wife of Norman Manley and mother of Michael Manley as "Mardi" out of the blue. She did let her readers know that she began to refer to Edna Manley as "Mardi," but not before she began to refer to her as such in the book. These are annoyances that causes the quality of this book to suffer. In addition, I found a factual error regarding US Vice-President George Bush being V-P in the 1970s. The book could have used stronger editing.
Though this is Beverley Manley's story, Michael Manley's story looms large. In writing about Michael Manley the book is strong. Beverley Manley gives the readers a side of the Prime Minister that humanizes him and reveals his vulnerabilities. I felt I got to know who Michael Manley was. It has sparked a thirst for more knowledge about Michael Manley and Jamaica during the 1970s-1980s.
In the end, this is a good book to receive insights on the life of a woman who was more than just the wife of Jamaica's most renown Prime Minister. Beverley Manley has made an impact on Jamaican politics and society in her own right as one who has sought to make Jamaica a more democratic society for all, especially for women and children.
At points in the book Manley failed to give adequate context to certain events or occurrences in her life. For example, when she begins writing about her extra-marital relationship with D. K. Duncan she failed to reveal that he was married. We learn that piece of information a few pages after she began this story-line. Other annoying tidbits occurred when Manley would began referring to someone by another name without warning. For example, she began referring to Michael Manley's father, Norman Washington Manley as NW out of the blue. She did the same with Edna Manley, wife of Norman Manley and mother of Michael Manley as "Mardi" out of the blue. She did let her readers know that she began to refer to Edna Manley as "Mardi," but not before she began to refer to her as such in the book. These are annoyances that causes the quality of this book to suffer. In addition, I found a factual error regarding US Vice-President George Bush being V-P in the 1970s. The book could have used stronger editing.
Though this is Beverley Manley's story, Michael Manley's story looms large. In writing about Michael Manley the book is strong. Beverley Manley gives the readers a side of the Prime Minister that humanizes him and reveals his vulnerabilities. I felt I got to know who Michael Manley was. It has sparked a thirst for more knowledge about Michael Manley and Jamaica during the 1970s-1980s.
In the end, this is a good book to receive insights on the life of a woman who was more than just the wife of Jamaica's most renown Prime Minister. Beverley Manley has made an impact on Jamaican politics and society in her own right as one who has sought to make Jamaica a more democratic society for all, especially for women and children.
March 10, 2014
Fascinating read. Read years ago. I might have stolen this book, I don't remember. I loved reading history from a personal perspective. I also appreciated the honesty about the less savoury, personal issues. She pulled no punches and white-washed little (Looking at you, Rita).
January 1, 2019
I enjoyed this book initially. It was interesting to get a female prospective of Jamaica its politicians and its politician's. However I felt there was an undercurrent of the author justifying some of the actions you took. An enjoyable read which I would recommend for those interested in Jamaica and some of its political history from an insider's view point
December 9, 2021
Another beauty that I enjoyed. I loved that it took me back to my second home - Jamaica. I relished the history, politics, culture, societal mores that this book explored.
March 5, 2022
Enjoyed it throughly!
July 29, 2008
Beverly Anderson Manley was the fourth wife of charismatic Prime Minister Micahel Manley at the height of PNP fever in post-Independence Jamaica. The book is interesting in the sense that it provides insight into Kingston's elite, ruling class. However, I did not find it particularly moving, critical, honest or revealing. The historical anecdotes were interesting and I enjoyed Manley's recount of her visits with Fidel Castro.
August 11, 2010
For this book to be called The Manley Memoirs is misrepresentation at its highest ! It"s a hodge, podge of cobbled together stories mostly taken up with Beverly Manley's dysfunctional relationship with her mother - her tales of Michael do not even compare favourably with a high school journal of a teenager with a crush.
August 5, 2009
Interesting biography, but lots of self-love and little editing. Jamaica-philes would be interested. he was in the action at so many points in her life.
January 4, 2009
not as good as i thought it would be
March 9, 2013
The most comprehensive and frank autobiography that I have read by a Caribbean person. Wish more bios by fellow west indians was this open and blunt.
January 3, 2010
overcoming the odds
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews