In the Castle of My Skin
Barbados

In the Castle of My Skin

by George Lamming

Summary

In the Castle of My Skin follows G., a boy growing up in a Barbadian village during the final years of British colonial rule. Through his experiences at home, at school, and within his community, the novel explores how colonialism shapes the identities and aspirations of ordinary people. As G. approaches adulthood, he witnesses changes in the village’s social structure, including the decline of traditional authority and the growing desire for political independence. Lamming combines autobiographical elements with lyrical storytelling to examine the relationship between personal development and national transformation. The village becomes a miniature representation of a society struggling to understand its past and imagine its future. The novel reflects on education, class, belonging, and the psychological consequences of colonial domination.

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George Lamming
George Lamming

George Lamming (1927–2022) was a Barbadian novelist, poet, essayist, and critic who became one of the major voices of twentieth-century Caribbean literature. Born and raised in Barbados, he moved to England in 1950, where In the Castle of My Skin was published in 1953 and won the Somerset Maugham Award. His writing frequently examined colonialism, migration, cultural identity, and the Caribbean experience.

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Published
1953
Author
George Lamming