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Salt
After 19 years of teaching his pupils to emigrate, Alford George, elitist schoolteacher turned populist politician, is forced to work out a welcome for the diverse races of Trinidad to their own island and how to liberate those who, despite emancipation, are still struggling under old captivities.
260 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 3, 2015
such a rich and complicated novel. I already want to reread it.
December 30, 2020
Reading "Salt" I feel how young the Caribbean still is. I think sometimes we forget that. Some of us are barely 50 years old, this year America turns 244 years old and look at the conundrum they are still facing. But America and any Caribbean country's trajectory aren't comparable. One country's wealth was built off slave labor while the other was left with nothing but trauma and broken backs. No 10 acres and a mule either.
"Carnival belongs to all the peoples of the island. Living as we were so close to one another, any creation or practice by any group in the island achieved its character because of the presence of the others in the midst"
Lovelace writes in such a potently Caribbean voice, it's unmistakably Trini, this energy moves through lines I revisit, soaking up and finding new meanings, thinking how relevant this text still is. I don't feel like a stranger in this novel. I'm not reading about some time in the distant past. It's narrating our recent and present state.
Salt is about everything that makes Trinidad & Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago 🇹🇹(T&T). It examines T&T's history as heavy and elaborate and complicated as it is. Earl Lovelace takes us through a journey of the island's era of Spanish colonialism, the English conquest, emancipation, independence and post-independence. Many seeds are planted about Trinidadian culture and politics: Calypso, carnival, masculinity and failure, relationships, poverty, reparations, white guilt v. victimization, exoticism and black femininity and sexuality, development after colonialism, religion and race. All projected through multiple characters lens much of it based on 11 characters socioeconomic status and experiences.
Many of these lines are not in 'standard English' I could realistically imagine the dialogues in their natural melody.
"Culture is created in the heat of oppression" that quote from The Flying Crapaud comes back now as I think about the Caribbean and particularly T&T and how Lovelace presents his home in this novel. A place where culture is created from the melding of the many cultures brought (voluntarily and involuntarily) there. Through "Salt" we witness those cultures coming together and at other times competing. Carnival is the pinnacle of togetherness but that's only once a year. Over the remainder politics aggressively tugs at the seams. Hushed realities and histories constantly test our vision.
"Massa day done!"
"All that nonsense about Massa day done when Massa was still here."
Bwoy I wish it was. White guilt with much nonchalance and arrogance is brought up towards the end and they were some of the most peculiar characters. Through a black and a white family Lovelace discussed reparations from multiple perspectives and eras. Maybe reparations was more of a conversation in the Caribbean in the '70s but I don't know of it being so now. Still, what's presented here's an interesting take to consider on land reform reparations, something I've heard discussed in South Africa.
Also, how Mr. Lovelace characterizes women especially black women deserves admiration. There's no question he inhabits his blackness and Florence was my favorite. I already know I'll be revisiting this book, I recommend it to anyone who wants to delve into Caribbean history and messy world of politics. I can't guarantee this is my last post
There is no one narrator. We seamlessly skip from first person to second person or more frequently to third person abruptly all in the same story. I honestly didn't mind once I got into the rhythm.
The Caribbean can learn from the US' mistakes and successes without trying to replicate their version of democracy and capitalism.
"Carnival belongs to all the peoples of the island. Living as we were so close to one another, any creation or practice by any group in the island achieved its character because of the presence of the others in the midst"
Lovelace writes in such a potently Caribbean voice, it's unmistakably Trini, this energy moves through lines I revisit, soaking up and finding new meanings, thinking how relevant this text still is. I don't feel like a stranger in this novel. I'm not reading about some time in the distant past. It's narrating our recent and present state.
Salt is about everything that makes Trinidad & Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago 🇹🇹(T&T). It examines T&T's history as heavy and elaborate and complicated as it is. Earl Lovelace takes us through a journey of the island's era of Spanish colonialism, the English conquest, emancipation, independence and post-independence. Many seeds are planted about Trinidadian culture and politics: Calypso, carnival, masculinity and failure, relationships, poverty, reparations, white guilt v. victimization, exoticism and black femininity and sexuality, development after colonialism, religion and race. All projected through multiple characters lens much of it based on 11 characters socioeconomic status and experiences.
Many of these lines are not in 'standard English' I could realistically imagine the dialogues in their natural melody.
"Culture is created in the heat of oppression" that quote from The Flying Crapaud comes back now as I think about the Caribbean and particularly T&T and how Lovelace presents his home in this novel. A place where culture is created from the melding of the many cultures brought (voluntarily and involuntarily) there. Through "Salt" we witness those cultures coming together and at other times competing. Carnival is the pinnacle of togetherness but that's only once a year. Over the remainder politics aggressively tugs at the seams. Hushed realities and histories constantly test our vision.
"Massa day done!"
"All that nonsense about Massa day done when Massa was still here."
Bwoy I wish it was. White guilt with much nonchalance and arrogance is brought up towards the end and they were some of the most peculiar characters. Through a black and a white family Lovelace discussed reparations from multiple perspectives and eras. Maybe reparations was more of a conversation in the Caribbean in the '70s but I don't know of it being so now. Still, what's presented here's an interesting take to consider on land reform reparations, something I've heard discussed in South Africa.
Also, how Mr. Lovelace characterizes women especially black women deserves admiration. There's no question he inhabits his blackness and Florence was my favorite. I already know I'll be revisiting this book, I recommend it to anyone who wants to delve into Caribbean history and messy world of politics. I can't guarantee this is my last post
There is no one narrator. We seamlessly skip from first person to second person or more frequently to third person abruptly all in the same story. I honestly didn't mind once I got into the rhythm.
The Caribbean can learn from the US' mistakes and successes without trying to replicate their version of democracy and capitalism.
September 2, 2014
Tells the history of Trinidad with a captivating style somewhat uncharacteristic of writers of Lovelace's generation. Extremely engaging. Characters are captivating and intricate. Characterization propels the plot while revealing the history of Trinidad across decades, generations, political movements, leaderships and ethnicities (though focusing primarily on the Afro-Trinidadian experience).
December 24, 2020
This is one of the most literarily distinguished books that I read this year, from beautiful sentences and syntax; round, complex characters; inventive form; and critical political commentary. I struggled with the book sometimes (I think reading it in a group or a class would be a better format for me, not the best book to pick up and put down, or read before bed since it does require some intellectual focus and attention) but nonetheless, I was captivated by the characters, sense of time and place, poetic prose, and polyvocal narration. Sometimes I felt that Bango and Alford were a bit *too* stereotypical or a political prop, but then I felt like that tension was addressed proactively and ultimately resolved at the end of the book. Major bonus points for women having space for introspection, political commentary, and agency!!! One of my favorite moments was Alford's growing self-awareness as a teacher with high expectations. I think to really get everything that this book has to offer, I would need to read it again and keep a character chart. That's not a complaint, but an invitation!
February 8, 2013
This is not the book that you pick up because you want to check it off of your "read" list.
This is the book that you pick up and fight. This is the book that you have to be on your toes for, because there's ever so much more than the surface meaning.
This is about justice, this is about people, and this is about perspectives. I had to read the book twice before I fell in love with it, and I think the turning point for me was my being prepared (on the second round through, at least) for the shifting narration. Everyone in the story has a turn speaking through first or third person, but the speaker is rarely announced. Everyone is involved in the story, and everyone is aware of the story.
This is the book that you pick up and fight. This is the book that you have to be on your toes for, because there's ever so much more than the surface meaning.
This is about justice, this is about people, and this is about perspectives. I had to read the book twice before I fell in love with it, and I think the turning point for me was my being prepared (on the second round through, at least) for the shifting narration. Everyone in the story has a turn speaking through first or third person, but the speaker is rarely announced. Everyone is involved in the story, and everyone is aware of the story.
July 15, 2017
My eyes. I want to tell you about the effect his work, this book; these books The Dragon Can't Dance and Salt, have had on my eyes.
Think about going to the optometrist for an eye exam. Different letters of the alphabet are posted at a distance on the wall before you. Letters you are familiar with. You see them every day and could guess what they are even with your eyes squinted. You sit and peer into the Phoropter (I googled it). But the machine, the Phoropter, that switched between lens, to adjust your vision. That is his work. Lovelace's writing.
I cannot help but to see my country and my people differently, with an understanding that my younger self would marvel at.
Think about going to the optometrist for an eye exam. Different letters of the alphabet are posted at a distance on the wall before you. Letters you are familiar with. You see them every day and could guess what they are even with your eyes squinted. You sit and peer into the Phoropter (I googled it). But the machine, the Phoropter, that switched between lens, to adjust your vision. That is his work. Lovelace's writing.
I cannot help but to see my country and my people differently, with an understanding that my younger self would marvel at.
September 13, 2021
A scattered, twisting narrative of a community that speaks to the broader struggles of its life. It's hard to nail down anything concrete about this book, except that it does probably the most interesting artistic work with perspective that I've ever read.
March 15, 2023
Incredible. I picked this book up from a ‘help yourself’ box on the side of a road in Exeter, and a couple of months later my favourite lecturer recommended it to me. A bewitching and powerful piece of literature that I won’t forget. I really enjoy narratives with lots of different characters where their connections slowly unfold. I also loved the shifting voice between first and third person.
“colonialism was a system of a dying power looking to ensure its life by penetrating another, seeking a host not so much to feast upon but to live in, to carry itself forward”
“colonialism was a system of a dying power looking to ensure its life by penetrating another, seeking a host not so much to feast upon but to live in, to carry itself forward”
November 30, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. The writing is vivid and beautiful. It is complex and there is a natural fluidity between the points of view that I don't think I've ever experienced reading before. It should have been harder to follow, but if works wonderfully.
I was sent this book by a friend who lives in T&T and had to do a bit of history googling since I'm not very familiar with the complex history if Trinidad and Tobago, but it was worth it.
The sort of rich text that SHOULD be on high school reading lists but gets left out.
I was sent this book by a friend who lives in T&T and had to do a bit of history googling since I'm not very familiar with the complex history if Trinidad and Tobago, but it was worth it.
The sort of rich text that SHOULD be on high school reading lists but gets left out.
November 29, 2023
Earl Lovelace’s Salt (1996) narrates the multiple journeys of those living in the aftermath of change. With the country on the verge of a transformation and its struggle for liberation and freedom, Lovelace thoughtfully honors true Caribbean voice through the writing of this novel and he proves credibility through his background as a journalist, novelist, creative writer, and Trinidadian. This book is deemed to be in the genre of political fiction, which is unsurprising due to the subjects discussed throughout the novel. Lovelace creates a world with undeniably human characters that mirror those living in the Caribbean. Salt does an excellent job of humanizing without condemning. Through the multiple point of views of the vivid characters that Lovelace presents to readers, the book is initially disorienting. Instead of shying away from this, perhaps readers should embrace such and thoughtfully wonder how and what this means for a space that has a disorienting history as it is a space forged out of brutal violence. The multiple point of views also allow multiple Caribbean voices (and by extension Caribbean stories) to be present at multiple times, which historically, has not been the case. I truly enjoyed Salt as I learned more about Caribbean history (which is intertwined and embedded within the narrative) and what it means to live in a space where the handprints of enslavement linger despite some character’s best efforts to pivot. Students and teachers interested in Caribbean Literature will enjoy this novel, however, I would urge those who may not consider themselves interested in such to still read. The Caribbean humor and narrative make for a powerful and compelling world to immerse yourself in. I give this book 5/5 stars!
December 6, 2025
Salt by Earl Lovelace tells the history of Trinidad and Tobago from the perspective of several characters surrounding Alford George, a mute child turned teacher and politician who is descended from a leader of a slave rebellion, in the years surrounding the country's independence (mid 50s - early 70s). Most of the chapters are dedicated to essentially biographical stories about each character showcasing the vast array of ethnicities that the slave trade brought together from African slaves and Indian indentured servants to French Creoles who still own the plantations their ancestors owned people on.
This is an incredibly written book with long, flowing, heavy-hitting prose that draws attention to the violent history of the Caribbean. A ~200-year long period, from the height of the slave trade to the lacklustre 'emancipation' and indentured servitude to independence, beautifully evokes the outrage, sorrow, and sense of loss felt by those living through this period. You also get a sense of how young Trinidad and Tobago is as a country and, by extension, how raw these issues are in the modern world as the direct impacts of slavery are being felt by the characters supposedly over a century after it was 'abolished.'
Despite the very serious themes covered in this book, Lovelace still manages to make it funny and heartwarming at times, all without taking away from the core messages and themes.
My only real nitpick is that some of the chapters seem to have more than one first-person narrator and its not always clear who's perspective we are seeing these events through.
I would recommend anyone interested in the history of the Caribbean pick up this heavy-hitting book.
This is an incredibly written book with long, flowing, heavy-hitting prose that draws attention to the violent history of the Caribbean. A ~200-year long period, from the height of the slave trade to the lacklustre 'emancipation' and indentured servitude to independence, beautifully evokes the outrage, sorrow, and sense of loss felt by those living through this period. You also get a sense of how young Trinidad and Tobago is as a country and, by extension, how raw these issues are in the modern world as the direct impacts of slavery are being felt by the characters supposedly over a century after it was 'abolished.'
Despite the very serious themes covered in this book, Lovelace still manages to make it funny and heartwarming at times, all without taking away from the core messages and themes.
My only real nitpick is that some of the chapters seem to have more than one first-person narrator and its not always clear who's perspective we are seeing these events through.
I would recommend anyone interested in the history of the Caribbean pick up this heavy-hitting book.
April 18, 2025
"Guinea John, mythical ancestor of Blackpeople in Trinidad, put two corncobs under his armpits and flew away from the scene of his enslavement, back to Africa. But his descendants, having eaten salt, were too heavy to fly and could not follow..." This is the line on the back cover that got me to buy this book. Alford George, the character we spend the most amount of time with, is first inspired by this story, wanting to flee his nation for the larger world. But over time he decides to stay to educate the children, then to join politics. In this novel, we follow many characters about 100 years after slavery has ended in Trinidad, but we must ask the question, how free are these people really? Bango's chapter addresses this question head on and is what made me fall in love with the book. The writing style took a bit to get used to with the long run on sentences and confusing narrator shifts, but ultimately what we get is a poignant novel regarding race and politics, as well as identity. I feel this is an impactful novel that should be required reading in high school, it has a lot of interesting nuggets of wisdom.
November 14, 2023
Earl Lovelace does a wonderful job of illustrating this story of Trinidad. His style of writing is quite captivating and I found myself returning to reread certain bits of the story. The humor laced throughout the novel was hard to pick up on at first, but quickly became one of my favorite features of the novel upon realizing the tone in which the book should be read in. Another very interesting part of the narrative for me was the variety of characters whose stories begin to unfold and intertwine in some ways as if the pieces of the story were slowly coming together. It is definitely a book that I am glad I got to read along with a group of people as it was stimulating to converse over the events of the novel because it is certainly a book that requires a high level of attention throughout the entirety of its reading.
November 27, 2023
I was assigned this novel for my English college course and this novel is amazing! Lovelace is a brilliant writer, and this classic novel shows it. Throughout this story Lovelace leaves you with numerous questions that as a reader makes you not want to put the book down. This is a beautiful story that left me intrigued. You will find throughout this story, that Lovelace stands out compared to other authors in genres similar to this story. Lovelace takes a heart wrenching and sensitive story and uses humor to make it lighthearted. As a reader, I enjoyed this aspect of the story because it is a unique approach for a story like this. If you are looking for an impactful but lighthearted story, this is the novel for you to read next. I look forward to reading other stories by him and see if he uses the same approach throughout his story telling.
August 16, 2022
I got assigned this book in college, decided to reread it... It was alright, beautifully written. I think that at times it was a bit hard to follow what was going on, particularly in the second half of the book. I feel like I might just reread the second half but it's one I definitely want to reread ! If you're interested in Caribbean culture like I am, definitely would recommend. The way the author sort of laid out Trinidadian political history and intertwined it with the story itself was nice, reminded me a bit like 100 Yrs of Solitude.
June 30, 2025
I've been meaning to read this novel for many years and finally got to it. Would I have appreciated the history in my younger years as I do now? I'm not quite sure. I think I read it at the right time where the eyes of my historic understanding have a more panoramic view.
Lovelace explores Trini history, and by extension Caribbean history, as it relates to the shame, loss, false promises, power, political influence and injustices suffered among the people. It's comedy, and relatability in no way hinders the harsh reality of colonialism, postcolonialism and neo-colonialism.
Lovelace explores Trini history, and by extension Caribbean history, as it relates to the shame, loss, false promises, power, political influence and injustices suffered among the people. It's comedy, and relatability in no way hinders the harsh reality of colonialism, postcolonialism and neo-colonialism.
August 9, 2022
The colour, depth and subtlety are brilliant, , got a little lost in the political chapters towards the last third but loved the characters and development of their lives.
November 23, 2023
Some lovely passages
But overall a bit dense and a little repetitive
Had some nice laugh out loud moments
Good history lessons
Don't think I'd read another book by this author though
But overall a bit dense and a little repetitive
Had some nice laugh out loud moments
Good history lessons
Don't think I'd read another book by this author though
May 29, 2025
Outstanding
Read
November 25, 2025<33
Read
November 28, 2023I enjoyed this novel. Through humor, romance, and satire this book keeps the attention of its audience. Salt tells multiple stories, but focuses mainly on the main character Alford. Alford is a complex and ever-changing individual. His story takes us on many twists and turns through education and political activism. Yet, through all the tragic scenes and events, Earl Lovelace remains humorous in this writing style. Lovelace creates humor in darkness through parody. He creates the character Alford as an outrageous and dramatically driven individual in all his pursuits. Furthermore, there is tons of irony within the humor of this story. Within the humor, there is also immense romance for each character, This novel tells detailed and complex love stories. Lovelace has a beautiful and realistic way of telling romance. While reading the stories, I felt Lovelace tapped into the true thoughts of an individual in love. With all the unfortunate events of the story, Lovelace keeps humor and romance at the forefront. This novel is great for those wanting to read about resilience and struggle in a humorous sense.
December 9, 2025
some stunning lines, a great exposition of the inter-tangledness of colonialism and its effects on community positionality. saw a lot of my family in the characters, particularly the dynamics between the caribbean mothers and fathers. this book helped me understand my dad more. does a great internal monologue from third and i loved the way the narrative was communally intermingled. the story itself wasn't strong in formation but read like an extended string of short stories intertwined, which was hard to gain footing at first but became easier once i released expectations of linearity, which is such a decolonial flex. have written some quotes to take with me bc some of them were emotionally profound and touched a deep spiritual place in terms of relationality to work, the futility of beauracracy and the self-preservation necessary within loving.
September 21, 2012
It's yet another wonderful novel by Lovelace. How he tells & loves his country over & over in all his works--having read several of them, I feel that I have lived in Trinidad & Tobago. His characteristic shifting between characters becomes even more complex here: periodically the pronouns suddenly shift in the middle of a given character's narration, or even something written in the omniscient narrator's voice suddenly shifts to "I." I assumed the first occurrence was an editing glitch, but it happens repeatedly so it must be intentional. Lovelace really is all his characters, & they are each other & their beloved & mistreated land.
April 3, 2016
This is one of my favorite novels. Earl Lovelace writes like a man who completely inhabits and knows the people and places about which, from which, he writes. His characterization of women is also wonderfully empathetic.
July 30, 2007
Difficult and not for the faint of heart. The pain and complexity of the colonized Caribbean.
Read
July 22, 2008Enjoying it so far...
Want to read
October 10, 2009Salt: A Novel by Earl Lovelace (2004)
December 10, 2011
I had a hard time with this book - too slow going for me. I didn't quite finish it which is unusual for me.
June 26, 2012
Liked it. Enjoyed reading the Caribbean dialogue.
April 22, 2013
excellent book on Trinidadian culture
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews