Jamaica Kincaid

Jamaica Kincaid is an acclaimed Antiguan-American novelist, essayist, and memoirist known for her evocative explorations of identity, colonialism, and family dynamics. Her notable works include the novels "Mr. Potter" and "The Autobiography of My Mother," as well as the memoir "My Brother," which reflects on her personal experiences and relationships.

Kincaid's writing is deeply rooted in her Caribbean heritage, often examining themes of displacement, cultural memory, and the lingering effects of colonialism. Her prose blends lyrical intensity with sharp social critique, earning her recognition as a distinctive voice in contemporary literature. Beyond fiction, she has contributed to gardening literature, reflecting her passion for horticulture.

A respected academic, Kincaid serves as Professor of African and African American Studies in Residence at Harvard University. She divides her time between North Bennington, Vermont, and her academic commitments, continuing to influence both literary and scholarly circles.
Standalone Novels
# Title Year
1 Annie John 1985
2 A Small Place 1988
3 Annie, Gwen, Lilly, Pam, And Tulip 1989
4 Lucy 1990
5 The Autobiography of My Mother 1996
6 Mr Potter 2002
7 My Favorite Tool 2007
8 See Now Then 2013
Short Stories/Novellas
# Title Year
1 At the Bottom of the River 1983
Collections
# Title Year
1 My Mother's Garden (With: Dominique Browning, Penelope Hobhouse) 2005
2 Putting Myself Together: Writing 1974– 2025
Picture Books
# Title Year
1 Party: A Mystery 2019
Non-Fiction Books
# Title Year
1 The Best American Essays 1995 1995
2 My Brother 1997
3 Generations of Women: In Their Own Words 1998
4 My Favorite Plant: Writers and Gardeners on the Plants They Love 1998
5 My Garden 1999
6 Talk Stories 2001
7 Among Flowers: A Walk in the Himalaya 2005
8 Tide (With: Silvia Bachli) 2011
9 An Encyclopedia of Gardening for Colored Children (With: Kara Walker) 2024
Jamaica Kincaid Anthologies
# Title Year
1 The Picador Book of the New Gothic 1991
2 Flash Fiction: 72 Very Short Stories 1992
3 Writing Women's Lives 1994
4 Mistresses of the Dark 1998
5 The Oxford Book of Caribbean Short Stories 1999
6 The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction 1999
7 Wonderful Town 2000
8 40 Short Stories: A Portable Anthology 2000
9 Writers on Writing 2001
10 Women Writing Resistance: Essays on Latin America and the Caribbean 2003
11 The Best American Travel Writing 2005 2005
12 Touchstone Anthology of Contemporary Creative Nonfiction 2007
13 Life Is Short – Art Is Shorter: In Praise of Brevity 2015
14 In the Garden: Essays on Nature and Growing 2021
15 On Girlhood: 15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library 2021
16 Stories for Mothers and Daughters 2025