MARY CONWAY revels in a powerful reminder that human lives are not defined by physical perfection
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Best of 2023: Letters from Latin America
LEO BOIX selects the best of non-fiction, fiction, poetry and children’s picture books
PAUL DONOVAN recommends the fine performances in this account of the pre-war meeting between the US president and the British king
TECLYN AROD relishes an intimate celebration of jazz improvisation that mixes local and national musicians
The missing sister, the vengeful WAG, cruise ship claustrophobia, and reanimated Avengers
Three great releases of lost concerts by Duke Ellington Orchestra, John Taylor & Stan Sulzman, and Joe Henderson
To rescue Kahlo from the clutches of the corporate art market, we need to acknowledge the overt and covert political dimensions of the work, demands GAVIN O’TOOLE
IT has been a remarkable year for Latinx and Latin American literature in Britain, with books of fiction, non-fiction and poetry exploring a rich culture, traditions, individual stories, and a whole region still much under-represented in the British publishing world.
Memoir & Fiction
In 2023, one of the most notable publications was Solito (Oneworld, £10.99) by Salvadorian-American poet and activist Javier Zamora. The memoir tells the story of Zamora’s journey as a nine-year-old nicknamed Chepito to reunite with his parents in the US. They had fled El Salvador due to the civil war and lack of opportunities.
Zamora’s journey lasted seven weeks and spanned over 4,000 kilometres. It is a remarkable contribution to migration literature, portraying the challenges and hope of those who embark on such journeys.
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