Tales from the Jamaican Heartland

The Jamaican heartland is the cradle of countless rural legends, enthralling folktales, and intriguing anecdotes that - like the red-billed streamertail hummingbird, the doctor bird - are endemic to Jamaica. Tales from the Jamaican Heartland: A Short Story Collection is the result of the efforts of two writers to help preserve the folkways of their nation by documenting stories from their youth to add to the growing repertoire of Jamaican literature. The text is a collage of experiences, featuring iconic elements of rural life such as hardworking farmers, entertaining interactions among villagers, and cherished personal moments with loved ones and even pets. The diverse range of stories within the collection captures moments that evoke nostalgia and emotion and might make readers laugh, reflect, and even shed a tear. Though the work is mostly fictional, it drew inspiration from the lived experiences of the writers and many people in their home communities. Through Tales from the Jamaican Heartland: A Short Story Collection, the legacy of those people from the Jamaican heartland will live on and on.