Drumblair

by Rachel Manley

Rachel Manley, granddaughter and daughter of two of Jamaica's national leaders, tells the story of the brilliant, artistic Manleys - Jamaica's most prominent and glamorous political family - and the house that nurtured them: Drumblair. This is a world vividly recreated, and an intimate memoir of the people who changed Jamaica's intellectual, social and cultural landscape for all time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

397 pages, Paperback

First published September 24, 1996

About the author

Rachel Manley is the author of the memoir Drumblair: Memories of a Jamaican Childhood, which won the Governor General’s Award for Non-fiction in 1997, and Slipstream: A Daughter Remembers. She has also published three books of poetry and edited Edna Manley: The Diaries, a collection of her grandmother’s journals. Manley is a New York Public Library Fellow, a Pierre Berton Fellow, a Rockefeller Fellow (Bellagio), and a former Bunting Fellow for Literature at Radcliffe College. She serves on the creative writing faculty at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has won Jamaica’s prestigious Centennial Medal for Poetry. Manley divides her time between Toronto and Jamaica. She has two sons, Drum and Luke.

Reviews

[Zilla Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully-written, multi-layered book written from the perspective of a child from toddlerhood to becoming a young adult. Rachel Manley experiences a number of things at a very young age: parental abandonment, migration, questions of identity and belonging. Despite her early traumas, she describes an idyllic childhood with her grandparents Norman and Edna Manley, who were also first cousins. Interestingly, though many people in the Caribbean call the Manleys “white,” Rachel describes them as being very aware (and proud!) of their non-white ancestry. She shows the reader the pitfalls of colourism and the legacy of colonialism in the Caribbean from her perspective, but though it addressed these big issues, the book is mainly an intimate and personal account of a child’s place in their wider family.

It is interesting reading a book when you already know so much about its subjects. Rachel Manley does a great job of neither shying away from nor exploiting controversial material such as her father’s five marriages. While we know what the adults around her are doing - navigating the failed negotiations for a West Indian Federation or dealing with a spouse’s illness - the focus is on the child and her quiet love for a beautiful country. The prose that describes Jamaica is lush yet simple and a delight to read. It is very evocative and I could picture the sights, sounds and smells as I read.

The author is clear-eyed in portraying the good, the bad and the ugly about herself. One of the more poignant parts of the story was when she faked having appendicitis so as not to have to return to boarding school. Another was where, during the Black Power era of her university studies, a time where she is trying to make her wavy hair into an Afro and reject the colonial aspects of her upbringing, she confronts her grandmother with the insult “You’re only a quarter Black!” only to be told, “So are you.” (By the author’s own description, “a quarter” is generous for either of them.)

Although the name “Manley” embodies privilege in the Caribbean, this book shows that it is more nuanced than that. The family struggles financially and experiences grief and disappointment. And in many ways, young Rachel is failed by the adults around her, made more poignant by the fact that she doesn’t ever say so or lay blame at their door. This is a really subtle, sensitive and sweet telling.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel Manley weaves the threads of the Manley family and the rise of Jamaica to independence into a beautiful tapestry that tells the story of a people striving to change their status from British colony to a thriving country. Her story is richly told, in places lyrical as she describes the countryside, its inhabitants and her family. The Manleys believed in education. They moved to England to attend university. They returned to serve their country, making their Drumblair house the centre of both family and political life for several generations. Manley's writing often reads more like a novel peopled with characters who strive to build, to serve as well as enjoy. Drumblair is an excellent portrayal of a country in transition through the eyes of one family.

[Marsha Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important book which documents the political and personal life of Norman Manley from the perspective of his grandaughter, Rachel.
Manley is an exceptional writer who crafts scenes that capture every one of your senses. I felt swept away into a different time and place. This is a book to read slowly so you can relish each captivating sentence.
The Manley family is eccentric, heroic and enchanting and the author helps you fall in love with them all.

[F.Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad this book was recommended to me. It is enchanting, educational, and so well written. The details in the imagery that she uses I thoroughly enjoyed. I would love to chat with her and learn a little bit about her method and her skills. A real treasure. Norman Manley, the politics, his family and progeny such ann interesting journey.

[Tina Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delving back into a Jamaica in the 60s, Rachel Manley shows the essence of what a simpler life could be... in all sense of being the daughter of one of the most influential and famous persons in Jamaica at the time.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel is a very engaging writer. I thoroughly enjoy her style. I spent 3 years in JA in the early 90's.
It's good to know the political background. It helps that i understand patois. Edna was a particularily engaging artist and her grandmother.
I read it in 1 day and look forward to her next one.

[Melissa Minott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed from start to finish

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this wonderful memoir, Rachel Manley tells the intimate story of her grandfather, Norman Manley, who led Jamaica to independence, and her father Michael Manley, who became Prime Minister of the country. Books about politics and political leaders can often be somewhat dry, but this one reads almost like a novel. The omniscient narrator allows herself to go into the thoughts and emotions of her characters much as a fiction writer would do, with the result that the reader becomes very much involved in the lives of Jamaica’s first family, and gets a real sense of their personalities.
Norman Manley is considered the “father” of modern Jamaica, and his rise to political leadership, and the journey to independence of his beloved country makes for fascinating reading. Anyone interested in the history of Jamaican politics will find this an absorbing story, but it also deserves a far wider readership. It’s a warm and moving account of a whole family, one whose personal lives were so bound up with their country.
Drumblair was the simple home where Norman and Edna Manley entertained family, politicians and artists and we meet many of them in these pages. There are also engaging portraits of the servants who supported the family, and these vignettes provide glimpses into the attitudes and aspirations of the Jamaican people themselves.
Although the book focuses on Jamaica’s first family, it is certainly not a political book, but instead one that tells the human story behind the headlines, and gives a human face to political leaders. Rachel Manley writes movingly about her own relationship with her grandparents and parents, and evokes the atmosphere of those turbulent times.
I thoroughly enjoyed this account, and learnt an enormous amount from it. The book is accompanied by some great photos, and this composite of autobiography, biography, memoir and novel works extremely well thanks to Rachel Manley’s skill as a writer in bringing together all the strands of her narrative. Highly recommended.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Peace Corps Volunteer serving in Kingston, Jamaica, 1972-74, I would sometimes hear Jamaicans speak of "Drumblair" with extreme reverence. I understood that it was the Manley family residence but not much more than that. The then recently elected Prime Minister was a young charismatic Michael Manley. In our apolitical training for Peace Corps it was mentioned that Mr. Manley's father, Norman Washington Manley had been Premier of Jamaica and "had been involved with Jamaican independence".
I picked up a copy from Amazon, and after starting the book I could not put it down. Ms. Manley's history of her family and of Drumblair, the family estate finally explained why it is so important to Jamaicans and Jamaican history.
The birth of the People's National Party and the independence movement took place in this home. NW Manley was a very talented lawyer who could have been a millionaire but he focused on the people and his country. His wife, Edna, a very talented artist and sculptor in her own right worked with him throughout their trials and tribulations. The book deals with the family triumphs, Jamaican Independence and failures, Mr. Manley's dream of a West Indian Federation losing in a referendum that he fought for so valiantly.
All through the story the family's love and devotion for each other and the Jamaican people was quite evident. The wonderful storytelling takes you right inside the family.
Now I know why the Jamaican people love the Manley family and Drumblair. As the book ended I realized there were tears welling up in my eyes feeling the loss of Mr. Manley and Drumblair.

[Kathy (Bermudaonion) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rachel Manley was born in England to a European mother and a Jamaican father. When she was two and a half years old, her mother was ill, so she was sent to Jamaica to live with grandparents she had never met. In Drumblair: Memories of a Jamaican Childhood ( published by Key Porter Books) she tells the story of her life with her grandparents.

"There was nothing spectacular about the old wooden two-storey house set far back from the road. It was not even in a fashionable area, but rather poised precariously on the journey between the city and its ghettos, and the lofty slopes of the suburbs. It has often been described as elegant, but it was too visceral and self-willed a place to be so, for elegance is a product of control."

Drumblair is the house that sustained the Manleys, one of the premier families of Jamaica. Rachel's grandfather, Norman Manley, was very active in national politics and instrumental in helping Jamaica achieve independence from British rule. He was elected the first Premier of Jamaica. Her grandmother, Edna, was an artist who supported her husband in his endeavors. They were both strong, loving, compassionate people. Rachel's father, Michael, became active in one of the unions and politics, eventually becoming Prime Minister.

In Drumblair: Memories of a Jamaican Childhood , Rachel Manley gives us an inside peek of what it like to grow up in such a dynamic family. This book is her homage to them. This book won the Governor General's Literary Award for Non-Fiction (a Canadian book award) in 1997.

[Crystal Loke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our yearly trip to the island never fails to bring the joy of meeting new people. How fortunate was I to have met and discovered the wonderful woman, Rachel Manley. Speaking with Rachel I was introduced to her writing. Immediately purchased this first book of three - Drumblair.
It is a story of a young girl growing up in Jamaica during a time of change and transformation.
With a skilled use of words and imagery I felt that I could see this world through her eyes. It was at times like she was in fact sitting here with me, as I listened to the gentle roll of the ocean waves, tell me her journey. Not having the opportunity in our NA history centric, I came to learn more about the Caribbean journey to independence.
Rachel herself proclaims that she collects people into her life. I feel fortunate to have met this amazing woman. I look forward to complete my reading of the other two books in this trilogy.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This almost got 4 stars. I was loving it for awhile, but for some reason I gradually lost interest as the story went on. Knowing nothing about Jamaican history, I learned a lot, and it was a really great look at a public political family. I'm not sure what changed that made me lose interest, except perhaps that by the end of the book Manley stopped talking so much about the political and social goings-on and focused more on the individuals.

[Leslie Wexler · Rating 3 out of 5]

A memoir of Rachel Manley growing up with her grandfather and father and the political changes they made in Jamaica. More of a review to come.

[Rob & Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone who was in the Caribbean in the 50's and 60's this book provides many wonderful stories about the Leaders at that time as well as the Manley family in particular.


Liz

[Sheryl Byfield]

This first hand account of the architect of Jamaican independence was beautiful and heart breaking.