# Even in Paradise - Hardcover

by **Elizabeth Nunez** (Author)

_King Lear_ in the Caribbean--except in this novel, the flattery and deceit of Glynis (Goneril) and Rebecca (Regan) lose out to the principled, honest love of their younger sister, Corinne (Cordelia).  
\--**_O, the Oprah Magazine_**, 10 Titles to Pick Up Now

Named a Must-Read Book by the **_New York Post_**

An epic tale of family betrayal and manipulation couched in superbly engaging prose and peopled with deftly drawn characters. In a story structure as rhythmic as the ebb and flow of the water surrounding Trinidad and Barbados, this revisiting of the classic story of _King Lear_ becomes a subtle, organic exploration of politics, class, race, and privilege. A dazzling, epic triumph.  
\--**_Kirkus Reviews_**, Starred review

Narrator\] mile remarks on parallels to _King Lear_ repeatedly, but there is much more to unpack here. The issue of racism is woven throughout, as are regional problems such as access to Barbados's beaches and poverty in Jamaica's Tivoli Gardens. This is also a celebration of the arts, culture, and natural beauty of the islands. Shakespeare's work is a tragedy, but for mile 'the future shimmers before him\] full of wondrous possibilities.' Nunez treats her source material with a deft touch, making this story impressive in its own right.  
\--**_Publishers Weekly_**

Nunez's textured and engaging novel explores familial discord, along with questions of kinship and self-identity....With a nod to _King Lear_, Nunez crafts an introspective tale as her vividly drawn characters navigate complications of heritage, race, and loyalty.  
\--**_Booklist_**

Even if you're not familiar with _King Lear_, William Shakespeare's great tragedy, you will still enjoy _Even in Paradise_ by Elizabeth Nunez...The author's drama heads to a new place: the Caribbean. We meet Peter Ducksworth, a widower of English ancestry, who retires to beatific Barbados...Ducksworth's plan to divide his land evenly among his three daughters goes horribly awry when he cuts off his youngest. Having been deceived by the older two, he sees his dreams of a heaven on earth turn hellish. Nunez inspires with this one.  
\--**_Essence Magazine_**

Nunez has written a Caribbean reimagining of _King Lear_ that adds colonialism and racism to the story of three sisters, the men they love and their battle over the deed to their father's beloved property. Themes of greed, jealousy and resentment play out after their father confuses flattery with love and disowns his favorite daughter.  
\--**_Ms. Magazine_**

_King Lear_ in the Caribbean. Nunez's latest novel follows widower and Barbados retiree Peter Ducksworth, who tests the love and loyalty of his three daughters. Like Lear, things fall apart for Ducksworth when he fails to realize that his youngest daughter truly loves him while the older two are simply using flattery to obtain their inheritance. It all takes place on sumptuous white Caribbean beaches and lush gardens.  
\--**_New York Post_**

Peter Ducksworth, a Trinidadian widower of English ancestry, retires to Barbados, believing he will find an earthly paradise there. He decides to divide his land among his three daughters while he is alive, his intention not unlike that of King Lear, who hoped That future strife/May be prevented now. But Lear made the fatal mistake of confusing flattery with love, and so does Ducksworth. Feeling snubbed by his youngest daughter, Ducksworth decides that only after he dies will she receive her portion of the land. In the meantime, he gives his two older daughters their portions, ironically setting in motion the very strife he hoped to prevent.

Beautifully written in elegant prose, this is a novel about greed, resentment, jealousy, betrayal, and romantic love in the postcolonial world of the Caribbean, giving us a diverse cast of characters of African, Indian, Chinese, Syrian/Lebanese, and English ancestry.  

### Author Biography

**Elizabeth Nunez** is the award-winning author of a memoir and nine novels, four of them selected as _New York Times_ Editors' Choice. Her two most recent books are _Not for Everyday Use_, a memoir, which won the 2015 prestigious Hurston Wright Legacy Award for nonfiction, and the novel _Even in Paradise_, a contemporary version of Shakespeare's _King Lear_. Her other novels are: _Boundaries_ (nominated for the 2012 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Fiction); _Anna In-Between_ (PEN Oakland Award for Literary Excellence and long-listed for an IMPAC Dublin International Literary Award); _Prospero's Daughter_ (2010 Trinidad and Tobago One Book, One Community selection, and the 2006 Florida Center for the Literary Arts One Book, One Community); _Bruised Hibiscus_ (American Book Award); _Beyond the Limbo Silence_ (Independent Publishers Book Award); _Grace_; _Discretion_; and _When Rocks Dance_. Nunez received her PhD from New York University and is a Distinguished Professor at Hunter College, CUNY, where she teaches courses on Caribbean Women Writers and Creative Writing.

**Number of Pages:** 320

**Dimensions:** 1.2 x 8.3 x 5.6 IN

**Publication Date:** April 05, 2016

## Details

- **Price:** 27.95 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 27.95 USD | In stock |

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- Even in Paradise - Hardcover
- Even in Paradise - Hardcover

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