Small Island

“You know, Queenie, there are some words that once spoken can split the world in two.”

Part One: Before

The novel opens in 1948, introducing four main characters whose lives intertwine. Hortense Roberts, a proud Jamaican woman, arrives in England with dreams of a better life, only to face harsh realities of post-war Britain. Her husband, Gilbert Joseph, a former RAF serviceman, struggles to adjust to civilian life while enduring racism. Queenie Bligh, a white British woman, rents a room in her house to Gilbert, defying social norms. Her husband, Bernard Bligh, is missing in action during the war, leaving Queenie to navigate life alone.

Part Two: 1948

Hortense’s high expectations of England clash with the grim reality of poverty and prejudice. Gilbert, though educated, faces discrimination in finding work. Queenie, now pregnant with a mixed-race child (fathered by Michael, a black American GI), faces societal scorn. Bernard unexpectedly returns from India, where he was stationed, and is horrified by the changes in his home.

Part Three: War Years

Flashbacks reveal the characters’ wartime experiences. Gilbert enlists in the RAF, believing in the British Empire, only to face racism from fellow soldiers. Queenie works as a volunteer, meeting Michael during the Blitz. Hortense, still in Jamaica, trains as a teacher but faces colorism within her own community. Bernard’s time in India exposes his racial prejudices.

Part Four: Aftermath

The narrative returns to 1948 as tensions escalate. Bernard demands Queenie give up her baby, while Hortense and Gilbert’s marriage strains under financial pressures. A violent confrontation occurs when Bernard tries to evict Gilbert. The novel ends ambiguously: Queenie gives her baby to Hortense and Gilbert to raise, while Bernard’s fate remains uncertain.

Key ideas

• Exploration of postcolonial identity and migration
• Examination of institutional and everyday racism
• Intersection of personal and historical narratives
• Challenging myths of British wartime unity
• Complexities of interracial relationships

Notable Adaptations