Anthony C. Winkler

Anthony C Winkler, the author of Family Mansions, is a well-known Jamaican writer, although I must admit that my introduction to his works really started with this particular book.

Europe's colonization of Jamaica has not been a hotbed for fictional inspiration, so I came to the novel with expectations to learn something about a topic I knew little about, while also being entertained in a genre that I like a lot - 19th century fiction. On both counts, I was immensely gratified. What I had not show more expected was the wit and satire that became the added cherry on top.

Hartley Fudges, our protagonist, is not exactly a likable character - but certainly very believable as the second son of an aristocrat trying to make a better future for himself. The story starts with him trying to gain his footing as a man of some title and means (which were, often, usually available only to the first-born during those times due to the laws of male primogeniture). A few ill-judged decisions lead him to emigrate to Jamaica, where the real coming-of-age begins. And, there, in Jamaica, personal story and national history intertwine to give us a gripping view into what life must have been like for both the immigrating whites and the enslaved native blacks. I won't give away much more as I want others to read and enjoy the book too.

As for Winkler's prose style - while I enjoyed, as mentioned earlier, his wit and satire, I found some jarring / discordant notes when the omniscient modern narrator tried to explain anomalies between the past and the present - explications that, in themselves, felt rather overdone and, even, unnecessary. Or, when the narrator tried to describe London, borrowing rather heavily and too obviously from Dickens - I wish there had been an effort to try a fresher, newer approach, given that the narrator's voice was so modern and not at all Dickensian. But, perhaps, this is just a matter of personal preference and will not be as annoying to other readers.

All in all, a very entertaining read that educated along the way. Now, I've added Jamaica to my "places to go someday" list as well. show less

Anthony Winkler took the colonization of the Caribbean and told a story that is freshly horrific and personal. There are no good people in this story, only naive people, cunning people, foolish people, selfish people, and people in denial. When a crowd of such humans gets together, with a language barrier thrown into the mix, the results are tragic and real.

It is the late 1800's and Henry Fudges has a problem. He is a second son, raised as a gentleman, but unable to inherit the family estate, money or the dukedom. His options are the clergy, the British armed forces, marriage to a widow, which he tries but is rejected, or to take his chances by trying to make his fortune in one of the colonies that Britain holds. Which brings him to Jamaica, an experience that will change his life.

Where has this author been all my life? He is witty, I was show more reading this outside and since I am on a corner every one passing by probably thought I was insane, ironic, informative and so easy to read.
We learn everything from the emergence of the zipper, the history of dueling, what it means to be a gentlemen in this time period, the threat of the mosquito and the lack of a cure for yellow fever and the spread of gonorrhea. We also learn about the history of Jamaica, the sugar industry, the importation and treatment of the slaves, there is just so much to this rather short book and it was for the most part amusing. A superb comedy of errors. Now I just need to see if my library has more of his books. show less

Within moments of opening this book, I was laughing out loud and enjoying myself. Winkler creates a tale involving a second son in 19th century who was destined to become a clergyman or something similar since he would not inherit his father's land under England's primogeniture laws. After unsuccessfully attempting to rid himself of his older brother, the family sends him with letters of introduction to Jamaica to make his own fortune in the plantation system there. He learns aboard the ship show more that the man to whom the letter was written has died and that a man aboard the same ship is taking his place. The two become good friends, and the man agrees to give him a job when they arrive in Jamaica. The rest of the book deals with what happens after his arrival on the island. The author's humor continues throughout most of the novel although it becomes a more subtle humor than that of the opening chapters. I personally would have preferred a less graphic description of the sexual encounters in a couple of places. Winkler is a Jamaican author who apparently resides in the United States. I will be looking for other books by him. I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program with the expectation that a review would be written. show less