The Autobiography of Alfred H. Mendes, 1897-1991

225 Pages·2002·9.75 MB·English

by  Michele Levy

UWI PRESS BIOGRAPHY SERIES
The University of the West Indies Press invites the submission of work to be
considered for publication in this biography series. We recognize the need to record
the lives and achievements of people of the Caribbean, but we would not exclude
biographical accounts of expatriates who have lived and worked long and hard
with us to our mutual advantage.
The series will not be limited to accounts of those who, by whatever means,
have achieved wide acclaim or notoriety. Far more numerous than the famous
are the many individuals who, by stern and skilful performance in the fields, the
workshops, the marketplaces and in the service of their compatriots, have
contributed much but remain unrecognized. This series is also for accounts of
them and is dedicated to the solid contributions of the unsung.
A Man Divided: Michael Garfield Smith
Jamaican Poet and Anthropologist 1921-1993
Douglas Hall
Law, Justice and Empire
The Colonial Career of John Gorrie 1829-1892
Bridget M. Brereton
White Rebel
The Life and Times ofT. T. Lewis
Gary Lewis
Bechu
'Bound Coolie'Radical in British Guiana 1894—1901
Clem Seecharan
Breaking the Glass Ceiling
The Stories of Three Caribbean Nurses
Jocelyn Hezekiah
The Autobiography of Alfred H. Mendes, 1897-1991
Michele Levy (ed.)
This page intentionally left blank
The Autobiography
of
ALFRED H. MENDES
1897-1991
Edited by
Michele Levy
University of the West Indies Press
Barbados • Jamaica • Trinidad and Tobago
University of the West Indies Press
1A Aqueduct Flats Mona
Kingston 7 Jamaica
© 2002 by Michele Levy
All rights reserved. Published 2002
06 05 04 03 02 5 4 3 21
CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION DATA
The autobiography of Alfred H. Mendes, 1897-1991 / edited by Michele Levy
p. cm. — (UWI Press Biography Series)
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN: 976-640-117-9
1. Mendes, Alfred Hubert, 1897-1991. 2. Authors, Trinidadian - 20th
century - Biography. 3. Trinidad and Tobago — Biography. I. Levy, Michele.
PR9272.9M45Z56 2002 823.914
Cover illustration: Rex Dixon, Conversation Piece (1996).
Gouache and ink on paper. Collection of the artist.
Book and cover design by ProDesign Ltd, Red Gal Ring, Kingston, Jamaica.
Printed on acid-free paper.
Printed in the United States of America.
For
Bianca and Bruce
with love
This page intentionally left blank
Contents
List of Illustrations ix
Editor's Note xi
Introduction Alfred Hubert Mendes,
West Indian Writer, 1897-1991 xv
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Chapter 1 Madeira Prologue, 1846-1897 3
Chapter 2 Early Memories, 1897-1912 12
Chapter 3 School in England, 1912-1915 26
Chapter 4 War, 1916 41
Chapter 5 War, 1916-1919 55
Chapter 6 Writing - Trinidad, 1919-1930 66
Chapter 7 Writing - Trinidad, 1931-1933 76
Chapter 8 Writing - New York, 1933-1940 89
Chapter 9 Writing - New York, 1933-1940 99
Chapter 10 New York, 1933-1940 112
Conclusion Trinidad, 1940-1972; Barbados, 1973-1978 732
Appendix A
"Looping the Loop" 755
Appendix B
Letter to Ellen Mendes from Alfred Mendes in Portugal 757
Appendix C
Nine Sonnets "For R—" 759
vii
Contents
Appendix D
Extract from the remembrance delivered by
Stephen Mendes at his father's funeral service 164
Appendix E
Alfred H. Mendes's Family Tree 166
Chronology 168
Notes 174
Works by Alfred H. Mendes 181
Works Cited 188
Index 190
viii
Illustrations
1. Isabella Mendes 14
2. The Mendes family home at 19 Stanmore Avenue 42
3. Alfred Mendes in uniform, c. 1916 44
4. Jessie Mendes 68
5. Ellen Perachini, aged seven 110
6. Ellen Mendes as a young woman 114
7. Alfred Mendes with Lea and Ellen Perachini, Long Beach,
New York, c.l 936 115
8. Alfred and Ellen Mendes with their son Peter, 1939 118
9. Alfred Mendes, his eldest son, Alfred John, and his
brother Frank, Long Beach, New York, c. 1937 119
10. Ellen and Peter Mendes, 1939 121
11. Acting Deputy General Manager Alfred Mendes on
a tour of the Port with the acting governor of Trinidad,
the Hon. P.M. Renison, and General Manager
H.O. Culhane, 1950. 735
12. Alfred Mendes in London, 1950 136
13. Alfred Mendes and Eric Murray, Trafalgar Square 137
14. Alfred and Ellen Mendes, c. 1948-1950 140
15. Alfred Mendes in his "gardening cap", 1967 143
16. Alfred Mendes with colleagues from Singer Sewing
Machine Co. 144
17. Alfred Mendes, 1972 146
18. Alfred Mendes on being made a doctor of letters of the
University of the West Indies, 1972 147
19. Alfred Mendes with his son Stephen, grandson Jason
and granddaughter Bianca, "Coolgardie", Barbados, c. 1975 148
20. Alfred Mendes at his son Stephen's home, Trinidad, c. 1982 149
ix