Maxine Beneba Clarke

Maxine Beneba Clarke is the author, first-person narrator, and main character of the memoir. Because Clarke is telling her story in her own words, she employs the first-person point of view. She renders her account in a traditional narrative manner and depicts her childhood experiences in “that folklore way West Indians have, of weaving a tale” (3). For the sake of clarity, this guide refers to the author as Clarke when referencing how Clarke pens her story; and refers to her as Maxine when referencing sequences from her childhood account. In the narrative present, Maxine is living in Melbourne, Australia with her son and daughter. She moved there from Sydney four years prior. In the Prologue and the Epilogue, Maxine is spending time with her children and reflecting on her experiences growing up in Sydney with her parents and siblings.

Maxine was born in Sydney in 1979 to...