Small Island Movie Views
Levy
Levy’s previous novel “Small Island,” which was an international best-seller, portrayed the lives and loves of people of Jamaican heritage who moved to England around the time of World War II. “Small Island” was recently turned into a two-part BBC movie airing on PBS. Part two is on tonight (check local listings). Levy, who lives in London, answered some questions from Speakeasy about her new book, and the new movie adaption of her work, via email.
Small Island Movie: In 1939 Hortense, illegitimate but intelligent and ambitious, is brought up on Jamaica with the family of charismatic, free-thinking Michael, who joins the Air Force when war breaks out and goes to England. After the war, Hortense, now a qualified teacher, makes a marriage of convenience to Gilbert Joseph, paying for his passage to England on condition he sends for her. She not only hopes to see Michael again but believes that living in Britain will give her more scope. When she arrives in London in 1948, she is extremely disappointed by the one room in which they must live and the obvious colour prejudice. Queenie, their liberal landlady, is also a woman used to disappointment, marrying decent but dull and sexless Bernard to get her away from the family farm. Whilst Bernard - now presumed missing - was in the Air Force during the war, she first took in lodgers from the armed forces, partly for the company, including Michael, with whom she had sex. .
Small Island Movie Images
