Thank you to Carolyn Cooper CD, Professor of Literary and Cultural Studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, for her edits, insight and time.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

Find us online and join the conversation

Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/penguinukbooks

Like us on Facebook facebook.com/penguinbooks

Share the love on Instagram instagram.com/penguinukbooks

Watch our authors on YouTube youtube.com/penguinbooks

Pin Penguin books to your Pinterest pinterest.com/penguinukbooks

Listen to audiobook clips at soundcloud.com/penguin-books

Find out more about the author and discover
your next read at penguin.co.uk

Footnotes

Introduction From Chaucerian to North Weezian (via Twitter)

fn1 Of course, nothing about 2020 went to plan. Brent 2020 – like so many other cultural events of that year – was radically transformed by Covid-19, and the play itself cancelled and delayed.

The Wife of Willesden’s Prologue

fn1 Patois: ‘From back when my eyes were at my knees.’ That is, ‘Since I was a small child.’

fn2 Patois: ‘Everything is good, I’m here, I’m okay.’

fn3 Patois: crude term for ‘vagina’.

fn4 Patois: to boast or take excessive pride in something.

The Wife of Willesden’s Tale

fn1 A malevolent spirit or ghost. River Mumma and Ol’ Higue are both fearsome female figures from Jamaican folklore.

fn2 Old Weezian term meaning ‘unattractive’.

fn3 Patois: ‘Reward does not always follow labour.’

fn4 Marley actually borrowed this line from Marcus Garvey.