Backdam People

by Rooplall Monar

A landmark in Caribbean writing, these stories, written in Creole, evoke the inner world of the Guyanese sugar estate workers.

96 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1987

Reviews

[kavi ( ON HIATUS) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! I have heard my grandfather tell these types of stories, but just simply reading it in Guyanese creole felt so raw and brought back the nostalgia of these oral stories.

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful short stories about the lives of indentured cane workers in British Guiana circa 1930s. Full of compelling characters and universal themes. Written in creole (not just the dialogue), the rich language punches with a rhythm and style all its own. This edition includes a necessary glossary of creole words. I found a falling-apart, blood stained copy in the Georgetown public library. I read it in one setting completely engrossed and washed my hands after.