Mar 04 2022 26 mins
In the final episode of Season one, we dive into the poignant novel The Lonely Londoners by Sam Selvon in order to discuss how the illusions of Caribbean migrants were shattered upon their arrival and over the course of their settling into the culture of the country.
Dabydeen and Tagoe-Wilson state that The Lonely Londoners 'deals with the shattering of the illusion of belonging' (1988, [2012] A230, p.187). They outline this illusion by placing it into three categories. '[..] firstly, a material dream about the wealth of England [..] with work well-paid and readily available' an illusion that both Moses Aloetta, the main protagonist, and Henry Oliver, Sir Galahad, have shattered. 'Secondly, [..] an illusion about the courtesy, hospitality and human warmth of the English' an illusion characterised, but not necessarily shattered, by Sir Galahad's exploits. 'Finally, the illusion of England involves a romantic sense of English history [..] and the illusion that the West Indian could participate in this history', something that can be seen in the affection shown to famous names throughout the novel.
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