The Humming-Bird Tree

Set in Trinidad in the earlier half of the nineteenth century, this book brings out many of the joys and ills that are embedded in human nature and in human existence. a young East Indian girl falls in love with the son of her caucasian employers. Innocent in their affections for each other, these two children embark on a journey of new discoveries in nature, and in the process discover the purity that is within themselves. However, these children also soon realize that this purity is blanketed by evil that is beyond their control, when this little girl released from her duties because they are caught displaying their affections. Meeting each other years later, the realization sinks in that their daily lives extend greatly beyond their love for one another. This book not only brings out the harsh realities of class structure, but projects the instruments that keep those harsh conditions intact.