Major Issues
Author Links
Essay Questions

Major Issues

The adjectives most often used to describe Jamaica Kincaid’s style are ones we usually associate with poetry rather than prose: rhythmic, lyrical, hypnotic, forceful. Lists and catalogues are another prominent feature of her style. Reviewers and critics have praised Kincaid for her intense scrutiny of the details of everyday life, whereby she transforms the mundane into the "mystical." Postcolonial scholars have examined Kincaid’s fictional treatment of the issues surrounding racism and colonialism. The mixture of the natural and the supernatural in many of her works, in the manner of Caribbean folklore, has also been noted. Feminist critics have been attracted to Kincaid’s emphasis on girls’ experiences, especially the journey through adolescence to womanhood, and the relationships between mothers and daughters.

Author Links

Jamaica Kincaid
A short biography and discussion of Kincaid’s major themes.

More on Jamaica Kincaid
Reviews of Kincaid’s works and a profile of the author from the The New York Times.

Jamaica Kincaid Interview
1999 interview in "Salon" in which Kincaid talks about moving to America from Antigua, writing for The New Yorker, and sex in her books.

Jamaica Kincaid
An overview and biography, with links to reviews.

Online Literary Criticism Collection
This page will link you to four interviews with Kincaid that you can read online.