The Pearl of Piparo

Pearlita's story is one of a country girl rising from poverty and brutish conflictual forces, to become a successful entrepreneur, wife, mother and citizen. The reader gets deep insights into life in Trinidad in the middle of the 20th century, as Pearl captures with brutal honesty, her move from pillar to post as she crafted a better life.

She embraces a simple and direct style of writing, free of complex academic constructs, intrigues or other linguistic and literary distractions. This orientation comes straight from the school of life itself. The reader feels more than reads Pearl's major life transitions - growing up, schooling, marriage, work, following her passion. We experience school pranks, bathing in the nature of cocoa fields and coffee plantations, early experiences of running water, morris chairs, electricity, trams, cane juice, conch shells, street fights and scriptures (used most forcefully when arguing with neighbours). It all takes place across our country from Chaguanas to Farnum Village, Tabaquite, Ecclesville, Hardbargain, Marabella Laventille, Tunapuna and finally, her story settles in Valsayn.