Senate House Library received funding from the University of London's Convocation Trust, for academic year 2024/5, to purchase selected titles to support the development of the Anglophone Caribbean Literature collection.
Using relevant bibliographies, guidance from academics in the field, information from the Bocas Lit Fest, and publisher listings, approximately 175 primary and secondary works have been added to the collection. Most of the books are available in print format but some e-books have been included, where available.
Titles added to the collection are a mixture of older and contemporary works. Many of the works purchased are held in very few other UK academic libraries. An example is John Agard's first poetry pamphlet, Shoot Me With Flowers, which he self-published in Guyana in 1977.
Books have been selected from a wide range of publishers, including mainstream literary presses such as Faber & Faber and Vintage, and independent publishers specialising in Caribbean works including Peepal Tree Press, Papillote Press, and Blouse and Skirt Books.
The funding allowed us to purchase books by more contemporary authors, including Claire Adams, Breanne McIvor, Shivanee Ramlochan, and Tessa McWatt.
Shivanee Ramlochan’s poetry collection, purchased with the funding, Everyone Knows I am a Haunting forms the basis of Bahamas-based book artist Sonia Farmer’s work The Red Thread Cycle. Created in a limited edition of 20, the Convocation Trust funding allowed the library to purchase a copy of this rare work.
This guide stems from the library's ongoing Collections Inclusion Review project and the specific case study to explore the Anglophone Caribbean Literature collection. The Anglophone Caribbean Literature collection was selected for review as it is currently subsumed within the wider Latin American designation, and its distinctiveness as a resource for both research and leisure reading is underutilised
The full overview and objectives of this case study can be seen here
The aims of this guide are:
Initial Findings
Senate House Library's collection holdings have been checked against all the bibliographies in The Routledge Companion to Anglophone Caribbean Literature, edited by Michael A. Bucknor and Alison Donnell (2011).
The library has relatively strong holdings in secondary, critical texts, some of which are listed in the General Works tab of this guide.
Although the collection contains a number of primary texts representing novels, poetry and drama, the representation in this area is patchy. Some authors are well-represented while for other authors only one text is available.
The collection is strongest in 20th century material.
In addition to the print titles on the shelves on the 6th and 4th floors, many titles are held in our offsite stores. Anglophone Caribbean literature is also available in the Institute of Commonwealth Studies collection, and works by writers of Caribbean heritage can be found also in the English Studies and US Studies collections. There is also representation in the Special Collections and Archives. As such, searching on the library catalogue as a first step is essential to gain a full idea of what the library holds. Browsing the shelves will only provide a limited selection.
Next Steps
Where budget and space allow, and also availability (as many titles are now out of print) gaps in the collection will be filled. 'Wish lists' of secondary and primary texts are being created
Development of the collection of 21st century writers is also being explored.
While we cannot guarantee the title(s) will be purchased, if you would like to recommend a title to be considered for inclusion in the Anglophone Caribbean literature collection, please use the form in the box to the right of this page