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The LampLighter
A historical novel which begins around November 1894 and goes up to March 5, 1895. The LampLighter deals with three major events in the history of Trinidad, all occurring on March 5, 1895; a cricket match between an English X1, which saw the birth of West Indies cricket, secondly, the Great Fire of 1895, which wiped out downtown Port of Spain, and finally the introduction of electricity into Trinidad.
In cricket, it highlights Lebrun Constantine, then 21, later the father of Learie Constantine. Lebrun was a sensational young cricketer of the time. He needed opportunities and who was best placed to bring him into the limelight but the England-based Pelham Warner? Pelham was a young white Trinidadian who had left for Oxford University and who had become the most celebrated cricketer in England. Often called the father of West Indies cricket, Pelham in 1894, invited an English X1 to tour Trinidad and fearing black players would be kept out of the team he came down himself to organize the best all Trinidad X1 to face the English players.
Lamplighter Marie Corrie is on of the main characters of the book. She was at the onset opposed to Edgar Tripp, an English businessman in Port of Spain. Tripp was the man who saw the "magic" electric lights on a visit to Europe, learned how to make the magic, and was on contract to produce it, his deadline being March 5th, 1895.
But who caused the fire on that historic evening? No one knows.
In cricket, it highlights Lebrun Constantine, then 21, later the father of Learie Constantine. Lebrun was a sensational young cricketer of the time. He needed opportunities and who was best placed to bring him into the limelight but the England-based Pelham Warner? Pelham was a young white Trinidadian who had left for Oxford University and who had become the most celebrated cricketer in England. Often called the father of West Indies cricket, Pelham in 1894, invited an English X1 to tour Trinidad and fearing black players would be kept out of the team he came down himself to organize the best all Trinidad X1 to face the English players.
Lamplighter Marie Corrie is on of the main characters of the book. She was at the onset opposed to Edgar Tripp, an English businessman in Port of Spain. Tripp was the man who saw the "magic" electric lights on a visit to Europe, learned how to make the magic, and was on contract to produce it, his deadline being March 5th, 1895.
But who caused the fire on that historic evening? No one knows.
186 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
1 person want to read
About the author
Michael Anthony
259 books80 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Considered one of Trinidad’s foremost historians,
Anthony travelled to England in 1955, where he
worked in factories and as a telegraphist. His
literary career began with contributions to the
magazine Bim. His first novel, The Games Were
Coming, was published in 1963; his most famous,
The Year in San Fernando, in 1965. Other writings
include short collections Cricket in the Road (1973),
Sandra Street and Other Stories (1973) and The Chieftain’s
Carnival and Other Stories (1993), where each story is
based on significant events in Trinidad’s history.
Much of his work after 1975 consists of historical
research into his native island.
Considered one of Trinidad’s foremost historians,
Anthony travelled to England in 1955, where he
worked in factories and as a telegraphist. His
literary career began with contributions to the
magazine Bim. His first novel, The Games Were
Coming, was published in 1963; his most famous,
The Year in San Fernando, in 1965. Other writings
include short collections Cricket in the Road (1973),
Sandra Street and Other Stories (1973) and The Chieftain’s
Carnival and Other Stories (1993), where each story is
based on significant events in Trinidad’s history.
Much of his work after 1975 consists of historical
research into his native island.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 3, 2018
Michael Anthony is high up on my list of favourite authors; and, his 'Lamplighter' is no disappointment. He drew me in again and held my attention with his familiar motifs of quick romance, father/son bonding (though Edgar Tripp is not the biological father of Wilfred), and wonderful historical scenarios. Who else but Anthony, can team up: the coming of electricity with the sport of Cricket, and big fire downtown; so successfully, and at the same time, have me galavanting through 19th Century Port of Spain and environs?
Wow!! Such a delightful little novel. March 5th 1895 will now be fixed in my mind because of Michael Anthony.
Wow!! Such a delightful little novel. March 5th 1895 will now be fixed in my mind because of Michael Anthony.
Displaying 1 of 1 review