THE STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL:: an historical, political, and socioeconomic perspective of St. Lucia

The Story of St. Lucia-Told Through the Strike that Changed a Nation When two banana farmers were shot and killed during the 1993 banana strike, it shocked an entire nation. But the tragedy was only the final chapter in a struggle that had been unfolding for centuries. In The Struggle For Survival: an historical, political, and socioeconomic perspective of St. Lucia, award-winning author and historian Dr. Anderson Reynolds transforms one of Saint Lucia's defining national crises into a sweeping narrative of resilience, resistance, and nation-building. Beginning with the dramatic events of the 1993 banana strike, Reynolds traces the deeper historical forces that shaped the conflict-from the arrival of the Island Caribs and European conquest to slavery, colonialism, emancipation, the rise of the banana industry, tourism, globalization, and political independence. The result is history that reads like a novel. More than the story of bananas, this is the story of a people struggling against overwhelming odds. Droughts, hurricanes, economic collapse, colonial exploitation, multinational corporations, and political upheaval become part of a much larger narrative-the centuries-long struggle of Saint Lucians to survive, prosper, and define their own identity. Winner of the 2003 M&C Prize for Prose, The Struggle For Survival combines history, politics, economics, culture, and compelling storytelling into an accessible work of creative nonfiction that appeals to both general readers and students. This expanded Third Edition includes an important new chapter on the St. Lucia Renaissance, the extraordinary flowering of art and literature that produced internationally celebrated cultural figures including Derek Walcott, Roderick Walcott, Dunstan St. Omer, Garth St. Omer, and Charles Cadet-a generation whose achievements transformed the cultural identity of Saint Lucia. Whether you are interested in Caribbean history, post-colonial societies, economic development, or the making of modern nations, The Struggle For Survival offers a powerful and unforgettable account of how one small island confronted immense historical forces and emerged with a distinctive national identity. Praise for The Struggle For Survival "A thoroughly researched and well-documented economic history... an important road map of St. Lucia in the pre- and post-independence period." -Sir John Compton, first and longest-serving Prime Minister of St. Lucia "Excellent work... a powerful commentary... truly a compendium of Saint Lucian life from early times to the modern era." -Modeste Downes, author of Phases "An easy-to-read, intriguing story of the social and political development of Saint Lucia... held my attention from beginning to end." -Travis Weekes, author of Let There Be Jazz "Reynolds sharply analyses the effect of bananas on the nation's way of life, ...offering readers a wealth of information on how bananas and power are intertwined." -David Vitalis, The Mirror "An invaluable book... establishes the Saint Lucian national and cultural identity." -Jacques Compton, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts