Author: Alfred Mendes, Kenneth Ramchand
publisher name: New Beacon Books
ISBN: 9780901241382
Pitch Lake is considered one of the early classics of modern Caribbean writing in English. The narrative centers around the life of Joe Da Costa, tracing his ascent from the ordinary occupation of shopkeeping to the upper echelons of the Portuguese community in Trinidad. The novel unfolds as a tale of a man who consciously and disastrously turns away from his inner self in pursuit of a glittering life that ultimately crumbles to ashes. Through Joe's story, the novel explores the commercialism, snobbery, materialistic values, and prejudices prevalent in Caribbean society during the 1930s, shedding light on the insecurities and uncertainties of the colonial era.
