Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review“[I]n
The Life of Captain Cipriani, James passionately and with his characteristic devastating wit exposed the lie behind the dictatorial British colonial authorities’ line of ‘self government when fit for it’, showing how the growth of the TWA demonstrated beyond doubt that Trinidadians were manifestly ready for ‘self government’. Indeed on re-reading the work without the off-putting miniscule print of the original publication I was struck by James’s radical daring democratic spirit, and it is not surprising it proved such a revelation and such an inspiration to many who came across it back in the 1930s.” -- Christian Høgsbjerg * Review 31 *
"[A] fascinating piece of work. It presents a snapshot into a period in Trinidadian history, and a perspective that is both new and ordinary, via an episodic study of its subject." * Trinidad and Tobago Guardian *
"[A]n indispensable work for fully understanding James’ trajectory of development as a historian and theoretician."
-- Anuja Bose * Journal of Colonialism & Colonial History *
"Having these previously difficult-to-obtain texts available in this form, and with Brereton’s valuable introduction, is . . . to be warmly welcomed." -- Andrew Smith * Cultural Critique *
Table of ContentsIntroduction / Bridget Brereton 1 The Life of Captain Cipriani: An Account of British Government in the West Indies Foreword 37 1. The People Concerned 39 2. Early Days 61 3. With the B.W.I.R. 69 4. Captain Cipriani and the Labour Movement 85 5. Captain Cipriani and the Legislative Council 97 6. The Municipality and the Trinidad Electricity Company 121 7. The Divorce Legislation 133 8. Personal 155 The Case for West Indian Self Government 1. The English in the West Indies 169 2. The Governor-in-Executive Council 177 3. The Legislative Council 181 Index 195
