Bernardine Evaristo’s «Mr Loverman»
Reading GroupIn this full-bodied exploration of “historical and contemporary issues of race, immigration, generational divides, neighborhood gentrification, sibling rivalries, social progress, social disillusionment and, most directly, African-Caribbean sexuality” (“New York Times”), Booker Prize-winning Bernardine Evaristo “says things about modern Britain that no one else does” (“The Guardian”). Following the life of Barry Walker, “Mr Loverman” takes its readers from 1960 Antigua to present-day London. Barry is a hedonistic dandy with an entertainingly sarcastic perspective on the people around him. He is also gay and has been cheating on his wife for the entire fifty years of their marriage. With love, sympathy, and a generous dose of refreshing humour, “Mr Loverman” portrays the pitfalls of social norms and expectations across cultures and generations. We read sections of the book at home and discuss them in class. Level C1.