Bernardine Evaristo is one of the most important voices in contemporary British literature. For her bestselling novel “Girl, Woman etc.” she received the Booker Prize on the lives of several black women living in Great Britain. Now her novel “Mr. Loverman” has been published in German, which once more combines an astute social analysis with an exciting narrative flow.
The 63-year-old author and professor of creative writing in London has developed her own narrative style. She uses few punctuation marks and adapts to the slang of her characters. This creates the feeling of being very close to the feelings of the characters.
“Mr. Loverman” focuses on Barry, in his mid-70s, a Caribbean expat who moved to London with his wife decades ago. Outwardly he leads a tranquil life, in retirement without any financial worries with two adult children. But he secretly leads a double life. He has long loved his friend Morris, who, like him, emigrated from Antigua to England as a young man – and Morris loves him.
Barry finally wants to openly admit to him. But is that actually possible? Not only Barry’s wife and her friends are hostile to all non-heterosexual life forms. It was not until 2022, for example, that a law criminalizing sex between same-sex partners was declared unconstitutional in Antigua (“Mr. Loverman” appeared in the English original in 2013).
The narrator writes with wit and empathy regarding the complicated family and love network. Evaristo’s characters are multi-layered, and the story provides an insight into exciting ways of life and ways of thinking.
(SERVICE – Bernardine Evaristo: “Mr. Loverman”, from the English by Tanja Handels, Klett-Cotta Verlag, 336 pages, 25.70 euros)
