Of Age and Innocence

When the charismatic Isaac Shephard returns to San Cristosal it is to lead an independence movement that for the first time unites the island's diverse groups - Africans, indians and Chinese - against the colonial establishment. Parallel to the political world is the `little Society' of four boys, including the white son of the chief of police, who believe that they already embody the unity their elders struggle for. In their tight bond with Isaac's mother, they are the Age and Innocence of the novel's title, though the meaning of the terms is thoroughly deconstructed.In one of the most important of all Caribbean novels, first published in 1958, Lamming probes beneath the surface of apparent reality to explore an ethics of perception, communication and knowledge. In its tension between tragedy and hope, its poetry and multiple layerings, Lamming's novel invites the reader to envision both the possibilities of change and the difficulty of achieving it.
An insightful exploration of the nature of race and ethnicity in colonial and postcolonial Caribbean societies, this tale follows the charismatic Isaac Shepherd, who returns to the island of San Cristobal to lead an independence movement that unites the island’s diverse groups against the colonial establishment. However, mutual suspicions arise as the groups fail to communicate openly about their different perspectives on colonialism, making them all vulnerable. Paralleling the world of political turmoil is the bond between Ma Shepherd, Isaac's mother, and the sons of the sparring politicians, including the white son of a reactionary chief of police. Tense and tragic, this novel delves into the implications of ethnic difference as it investigates the process of perception, communication, and knowledge.