Eltonsbrody

Edgar Mittelholzer's Eltonsbrody is a strange novel. It's not quite as enjoyable or moving as his earlier work in the horror genre, but it does feature Barbados rather brilliantly. Each aspect of Barbadian geography, climate, and topography is vividly depicted, often with human-like attributes. Besides the actual Eltonsbrody home of Mrs. Scaife, where most of the story takes place, the various characters in the novel also highlight the nuances and contradictions of late colonial Barbados. Mrs. Scaife, a product of the Redlegs or white poor of the island, married a black doctor who worked his way up to a position of respectability in the colonial order. She cannot stand her Portuguese step-daughter, and despises her son, who cozies up to those in authority and status. Read in this light, the novel would suggest the madness of colonial society, but one cannot help thinking Mittelholzer was speaking more broadly. All the elemental facets of personality, inter-personal relations, social hierarchy, gender roles, or even family are thrown into question. Each causes disdain, horror, confusion, miscommunication or hilarity. By the conclusion of the novel, one does not know if Mrs. Scaife was just a prankster who wanted to go out with a bang or a truly insane person. Mr. Woodsley himself is not certain.