Gordon Robinson | The humble Peacock

Everybody knows my favourite author is Jamaica's Rachel Manley.

Considering her poetic beginnings, it's unsurprising her prose often reads like poetry or that her facility with metaphor is amazing. There's a riveting chapter in Horses in Her Hair devoted to imagery of Cornwall's (England) rocky, foamy coast, that's the best of its type I've read.

Full disclosure: I consider myself among Rachel's close personal friends, so I must be biased. In fact, she has been elevated, by the Old Ball and Chain, to the official post of 'other woman'. That's about as impossible as reaching the unreachable star.

There's a funny story about a new coffee table Old BC bought for the living room. One day, SkullDougery placed his cup of coffee on the table and was scolded mercilessly by his mother. Then Rachel visited, and relaxed as she always is at Casa Tout, put her bare feet on the table. Not a word from Old BC. The coffee table was immediately rechristened 'Rachel's table' and the boys use it as they please.

For years, insisting she's only a "memoirist" (whatever the heck that is), Rachel resisted urgings to write a novel. She finally relented, and after a lengthy, torturous process, The Black Peacock was published. Old BC and I attended the launch at Red Bones. The venue was packed. A grand time was had by all.

But, I noticed media coverage was sluggish. Naturally, I understand Rachel's work isn't considered trendy. Her old-fashioned, idealistic artistry has been replaced by a coarseness exemplified by extreme graphic descriptions of every imaginable (and some unimaginable) human interaction.

Sigh. So be it. The Black Peacock is a story of the purest form of love written with tremendous skill and empathy in a format permitting readers piercing insight into true, lasting devotion from male and female perspectives.

In his review for thecaribbeancamera.com, Jeffrey Cobham wrote:

"The strength of the love story lies in the fact that we follow two persons, circling each other, darting off every so often, but being drawn back towards each other, not by physical passion, but by the need to explore more fully and perhaps catalogue each other's essences ... ."

 

EXTENSIVE RESUME

 

Despite Rachel's resume, including the Canadian Governor General's Award and nomination for Canada's First Novel Award, media celebrated The Black Peacock's early success as passionately as a German in Mexico on June 17. On May 10, The Gleaner allegedly quoted Rachel, but she sounded incoherent: "Writing is such a lonely process that it's always rewarding to get positive feedback; as a finalist, yes, but also when one receives a letter or phone call that, as a writer, one has touched a reader's mind and heart, [it's] a great feeling. I don't think appreciation adds up to another person's clout, but it certainly makes me feel good."

That's not the Rachel I know. Here's the full interview:

Q: How did you feel after learning you've been shortlisted for the First Novel Award?

A: Honoured. Writing is such a lonely process that it's always rewarding to get positive feedback - as a finalist yes, but also when one receives a letter or phone call - word that as a writer one has reached out and touched a reader's mind and heart. Great feeling.

Q: Did you anticipate your first fictional work would attract such prestige?

A: No. I didn't even know about this award! My bad.

Q: Considering this relative success, do you intend to create more fiction?

A: Not really. I think I'll go bungee jumping next time.

Q: Does this accolade make you less doubtful of your clout as a fiction writer?

A: I don't think appreciation adds up to another person's clout. But it certainly makes me feel good.

Q: What's next for Rachel Manley? Book tour? Lectures? A long vacation?

A: Apart from bungee jumping? I'm writing a memoir. Back to non-fiction."

Context, like perspective, is everything!

Peace and love.

- Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.