Lamplighter

The Lamplighter by Jackie Kay is a groundbreaking lyrical drama that explores the heart of British slave trade through the experiences of four unforgettable women.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 112 pages
Publication date: 06 August 2020
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

The Lamplighter is a powerful and gripping play that explores the bitter story of slavery through the experiences of four women. Written by the award-winning poet and Scottish Makar Jackie Kay, the play was first produced as a play and reads on the page as a profound and tragic multi-layered poem. The story follows the lives of Constance, Mary, Black Harriot, and the Lamplighter, who were all sold into slavery from the ports in Bristol.

Through their different voices, the play sings together in a rousing chorus that speaks to the experiences of all those brutalized by slavery. It is a stirring, impassioned, and deeply affecting work that remains essential today as the day it was first performed.

Jackie Kay's work is known for its formal expansiveness and inclusivity, always about the opening up of our notions of identity. In The Lamplighter, she takes us on a journey into the dark heart of Britain's legacy in the slave trade, challenging our preconceptions and revealing the human cost of this terrible institution.

The play is a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit, even in the face of unimaginable adversity. It is a reminder of the importance of empathy, compassion, and resistance to oppression and injustice.

The Lamplighter is an essential work by one of our most beloved writers. It is a powerful exploration of the human experience that will continue to resonate with audiences for generations to come.

Weight: 150g
Dimension: 130 x 196 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529039856