The economic prose generates the heat and colour of the Caribbean and Celia's life is shaped by her intense longings, ambition and betrayal. A novel for those interested in relationships: the interactions between adult and adolescent, servant and master and the poor and the rich are all skillfully portrayed.
Mrs Maingot used to say that Roman Bartholomew could crawl under a snake's belly on stilts. Even then, I knew this was true. It
was clear from the beginning that he couldn't be trusted
