FROM THE HEAT OF DAY

by Roy A.K. Heath

The domination of the Tanu has been broken. In the aftermath of cataclysm, Aiken Drum seizes the hour to grasp control of the Pilocene world. There are those, human and Tanu, who rally to him - and those who fear and hate him. .

Genres: Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Roy Aubrey Kelvin Heath was from Guyana, where he attended the Central High School. He came to England at age 24 to read modern languages at London University. He was a teacher from 1959, and was called to the English Bar in 1964, and the Guyana Bar in 1973.

His first novel, published in 1974, was A Man Come Home, and his 1978 novel, The Murderer won the Guardian Fiction Prize. The Shadow Bride (1988) made the Booker Prize shortlist, Kirkus Review commenting that, "It's hard to believe it didn't win."

Heath's writings were widely acclaimed, Arnon Adams calling him "truly one of the most brilliant story tellers ever"; Salman Rushdie described him as "a beautiful writer"; and Edward Blishen as "simply one of the most astonishingly good novelists of our time."

Heath died in London at the age of 81.

Reviews

[Kathy]

This novel is basically the story of a marriage. The book is short but it covers a lot of ground. I think this is because the writer uses a series of illustrative scenes, rather than going into expansive detail about every aspect of the protagonists' lives. By switching point-of-view between the husband and the wife it is effective in showing the extent of their failure to communicate and their consequent misunderstanding of one another. I liked the way that it suggests a wider social world, but maintains its focus on the psychology of the husband and wife.
This is the first part of a family trilogy.

[Isabel]

A quiet, brooding book about an unhappy marriage in Guyana in the 1930s. I was captivated by Gladys and Armstrong (the couple) - how their love evolves over time, how they manage their frustration in marriage differently, and how their dynamics impact their friendships, particularly Gladys' relationships with the women who work for her.

[Ellen]

This is the first of a trilogy about a family living in Georgetown, Guyana. Gladys from the smarter part of Goergetown marries Sonny from a different district. From the marriage two children Rohand and Genetha are born. This story is told from the heart, it was so enjoyable I couldn't wait for the next book. Recommend