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Andrea Levy, Author Who Spoke for a Generation of Immigrants, Dies at 62 Andrea Levy, Author Who Spoke for a Generation of Immigrants, Dies at 62
(3 days later)
LONDON — Andrea Levy, a prizewinning author whose novels chronicled the experience of Jamaican immigrants in Britain, died Thursday night. She was 62. LONDON — Andrea Levy, a prizewinning author whose novels chronicled the experience of Jamaican immigrants in Britain, died on Thursday night. She was 62.
Her death, from cancer, was confirmed in a statement by Headline, her publisher. It did not say where she died.Her death, from cancer, was confirmed in a statement by Headline, her publisher. It did not say where she died.
Ms. Levy, whose books included “Small Island” and “The Long Song,” was seen by many as the voice of tens of thousands of people who migrated to Britain from its former colonies in the West Indies after World War II to help rebuild the country, only to encounter racism.Ms. Levy, whose books included “Small Island” and “The Long Song,” was seen by many as the voice of tens of thousands of people who migrated to Britain from its former colonies in the West Indies after World War II to help rebuild the country, only to encounter racism.
Her father, Winston Levy, was one of the more than 490 people aboard the passenger liner Empire Windrush when it arrived in Britain in 1948 from Jamaica. The immigrants came to be known as the Windrush generation.Her father, Winston Levy, was one of the more than 490 people aboard the passenger liner Empire Windrush when it arrived in Britain in 1948 from Jamaica. The immigrants came to be known as the Windrush generation.
But Ms. Levy’s books spoke to a far larger audience than just those of West Indian ancestry in Britain. Uzodinma Iweala, reviewing Ms. Levy’s “Fruit of the Lemon” for The New York Times in 2007, said the novel “illuminates the general situation facing all children of postcolonial immigrants across the West, from the banlieues of France to the Islamic neighborhoods of New York to the Hispanic ghettos of Los Angeles.”But Ms. Levy’s books spoke to a far larger audience than just those of West Indian ancestry in Britain. Uzodinma Iweala, reviewing Ms. Levy’s “Fruit of the Lemon” for The New York Times in 2007, said the novel “illuminates the general situation facing all children of postcolonial immigrants across the West, from the banlieues of France to the Islamic neighborhoods of New York to the Hispanic ghettos of Los Angeles.”
Andrea Levy was born in London in 1956 to Jamaican parents of mixed descent. She grew up in public housing near the Highbury stadium that used to house the London soccer club Arsenal.Andrea Levy was born in London in 1956 to Jamaican parents of mixed descent. She grew up in public housing near the Highbury stadium that used to house the London soccer club Arsenal.
“The racism I encountered was rarely violent or extreme,” she wrote of her childhood in “Six Stories and an Essay,” “but it was insidious and ever-present and it had a profound effect on me.”“The racism I encountered was rarely violent or extreme,” she wrote of her childhood in “Six Stories and an Essay,” “but it was insidious and ever-present and it had a profound effect on me.”
“I hated myself,” she added. “I was ashamed of my family, and embarrassed that they came from the Caribbean.” She said she had tried to act as British as possible.“I hated myself,” she added. “I was ashamed of my family, and embarrassed that they came from the Caribbean.” She said she had tried to act as British as possible.
Ms. Levy studied textile design and became a costume assistant, working at the BBC, among other places. But in her 20s she had a “rude awakening” to the issues of race while working for a sex-education project, she wrote.Ms. Levy studied textile design and became a costume assistant, working at the BBC, among other places. But in her 20s she had a “rude awakening” to the issues of race while working for a sex-education project, she wrote.
She recalled attending a racism-awareness course, in which participants were asked to gather by race. She instinctively walked toward the group of white people, only to be beckoned to the other side of the room. The questions over identity “sent me to bed for a week,” she wrote.She recalled attending a racism-awareness course, in which participants were asked to gather by race. She instinctively walked toward the group of white people, only to be beckoned to the other side of the room. The questions over identity “sent me to bed for a week,” she wrote.
Ms. Levy started writing in her 30s, after taking a creative-writing class, but publishers were not really sure what to do with her at first, she told The Guardian in 1999. “They were worried that I’d be read only by black people,” she said.Ms. Levy started writing in her 30s, after taking a creative-writing class, but publishers were not really sure what to do with her at first, she told The Guardian in 1999. “They were worried that I’d be read only by black people,” she said.
The rejections spurred her on, she said, adding, “It’s grist to my mill.”The rejections spurred her on, she said, adding, “It’s grist to my mill.”
She published her first novel, “Every Light in the House Burnin’,” in 1994, but her biggest success came in 2004 with “Small Island,” the story of a Jamaican couple of the Windrush generation and the problems they experience once they move to Britain.She published her first novel, “Every Light in the House Burnin’,” in 1994, but her biggest success came in 2004 with “Small Island,” the story of a Jamaican couple of the Windrush generation and the problems they experience once they move to Britain.
“Levy portrayed with often heartbreaking wit the hardships faced by her parents’ generation,” the author Fernanda Eberstadt wrote in The Times. “It’s easy to understand why she has become something of a celebrity in Britain.”“Levy portrayed with often heartbreaking wit the hardships faced by her parents’ generation,” the author Fernanda Eberstadt wrote in The Times. “It’s easy to understand why she has become something of a celebrity in Britain.”
“Small Island” won the Orange Prize for fiction, now known as the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and the Whitbread Award, now known as the Costa Award, for the book of the year. Ms. Levy was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2010 for “The Long Song,” her last novel.“Small Island” won the Orange Prize for fiction, now known as the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and the Whitbread Award, now known as the Costa Award, for the book of the year. Ms. Levy was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2010 for “The Long Song,” her last novel.
Ms. Levy’s books attracted renewed attention in Britain recently as a result of a scandal involving members of the Windrush generation. Many longtime legal residents of Britain with Caribbean ancestry lost their jobs, were denied medical care and were even detained and threatened with deportation because they could not prove that they had lived in the country since before 1973. The uproar over their treatment was an embarrassment for the British government.Ms. Levy’s books attracted renewed attention in Britain recently as a result of a scandal involving members of the Windrush generation. Many longtime legal residents of Britain with Caribbean ancestry lost their jobs, were denied medical care and were even detained and threatened with deportation because they could not prove that they had lived in the country since before 1973. The uproar over their treatment was an embarrassment for the British government.
Ms. Levy is survived by her husband, Bill Mayblin, a graphic designer.Ms. Levy is survived by her husband, Bill Mayblin, a graphic designer.
A stage adaptation of “Small Island” is scheduled to open at the National Theater in London on April 17, while “The Long Song” was adapted for television by the BBC last year.A stage adaptation of “Small Island” is scheduled to open at the National Theater in London on April 17, while “The Long Song” was adapted for television by the BBC last year.
“I’ve never been busier,” Ms. Levy was quoted as telling the Guardian journalist Gary Younge, a close friend, in a tribute to her by him that was published on Friday. She added, “Shame I won’t see any of it.”“I’ve never been busier,” Ms. Levy was quoted as telling the Guardian journalist Gary Younge, a close friend, in a tribute to her by him that was published on Friday. She added, “Shame I won’t see any of it.”