My Story & Other Stories: A Memoir

If storytellers pass memories from one generation to the next, and remembering is an art, then Hartley Neita was a master of both. My Story & Other Stories: A Memoir, is a new Jamaican classic, one of the finest books about her in generations. With his brilliantly crafted writing, Hartley leads the reader past the signposts of his life — through the tiny Clarendon village of Four Paths in mid-20th century Jamaica, and along paths that crossed with a queen, an emperor, a premier, presidents and prime ministers. The result is an "autobiographical memoir", an inspiring collection of columns and short stories written by a master storyteller who enjoyed entertaining readers with his unique literary style and sharing thoughts and life experiences with friends, old and new. So, here is a literary virtuoso's memoir of Jamaica from the 1940s to the present, seen through the eyes of this gifted storyteller and global traveller. Poets laureate Lorna Goodison and Olive Senior, and former prime minister and friend, P. J. Patterson, describe it best, "A big book of brief, sparkling stories by a man whose writings kept us enthralled for over sixty years." Olive Senior. Author, Poet Laureate of Jamaica 2021-2024 "In this finely curated collection, our Hartley lives again in all his blazing intelligence, courtesy, warmth, and wit." Lorna Goodison CD, Author, Poet Laureate of Jamaica 2017-2021. "As a master writer, he wrote with the painter's brush; a wide sweep when necessary and with precision where appropriate." Rt Hon Percival J. Patterson, ON. These narratives were penned by a seasoned traveller and griot, a multi-faceted man who embraced all with his famous charm and humour. In it, his wit, sarcasm, and sometimes scathing observations, draw attention to our shortcomings and challenge us to answer the questions of if, when, and where we as Jamaicans have gone wrong. Hartley Neita's My Story & Other Stories: A Memoir, significantly contributes to Jamaica's many literary gems. If you read only one book about her this year, this is it.