Minty Alley

I’m giving this purchase 3 stars, not because of anything that has to do with the book—which is for a class I’m taking and that I’ve not begun to read yet—but because UPS/Fed-ex always gets away with poor service and I know I’m not the only person that lives in a stigmatizing area that faces this issue. Amazon Prime? I had it. However, I canceled my membership because it made no difference, seeming as I always had to pick up my packages, in beat up condition, and without a notice slip. So, why use a membership that clearly doesn’t treat all customers the same? I’ve complained about this so many times with customer service. Both with amazon and the delivery services, yet nothing changes. My packages get left in my hallway, unattended. No one leaves a slip behind. My own step father has had packages stolen as a result of this, so we deliver our stuff to others addresses, which we shouldn’t have to. Last I complained about this persistent pattern, Amazon (when I was a prime member! Keep in mind) only offered a refund and their redundant lecture about how it’s an issue with UPS and Fedex. You would think, maybe some gift cards of decent value or some free offers would be a way to satisfy a customers constant disappointment. So, amazon. You may be taking over, but just know in my eyes, you are not the best. You’re just, eh. Anyway, if you don’t live in a house or a nice neighborhood, I don’t suggest you give your money away for “prime treatment” ‘cause I promise you, it’ll feel as if you’re still having the basic amazon experience. ✌🏼

Just what I ordered. I read the book , lost it and wanted another copy. That's why I bought it.

Gave as a gift. my friend loves it.

Excellent book

The description is not quite accurate - was originally published by Secker&Warburg in 1936 (not 1939)- the first novel by a black West Indian to be published in England. It's the story of a young black Victorian gentleman living among people two rungs below him in social class - a cross between Boswell's London Journal and Hitchcock's Rear Window.

Minty alley is one of the first books C.L.R. James wrote, before he found his niche as a historian and cricket writer. But This isn't because of any lack of talent in fiction writing. The characters of Minty Alley are real and rounded and tell us something about ourselves as well as the people of Trinidad. The vast class differences in colonial societies even among the colonised peoples is thrown into stark relief by James's caricatures. You might be shocked at the poverty or amused by the dialogue,

A must read for any lover of Caribbean literature