Caribbean Literature: Tanti at de Oval by Paul Keens-Douglas

Legendary Trinidadian story-teller, Paul Keens-Douglas, expresses with lively recitation the tale of Tanti Merle's visit to a cricket game at the Oval.

Paul Keens-Douglas wrote the short story Tanti at de Oval to give the readers a colorful example of life in the Caribbean. Tanti at de Oval is about the writer's aunt, Tanti Merle, and her first visit to The Queen's Park Oval (the 'Oval') in Trinidad to watch an important cricket match between Trinidad and the Combined Islands. Tanti Merle is a colorful character who likes to be in control. Some Caribbean natives would describe her as 'liking her own way.'

Paul Keens-Douglas is a Playwright, Writer and Performer

Paul Keens-Douglas is a Trinidadian-born playwright, writer and performer whose voice is well known in the Caribbean. A writer for over thirty years, Keens-Douglas' narratives have aired on several radio stations. His stories offer engaging colloquial language, vivid imagery and relatable tales. Keens-Douglas is also a motivational speaker and recently in 2008 was the keynote speaker at the Virgin Islands' Humanities Council's 'Virgin Voices: A Literary and Spoken Word Festival' in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

A Caribbean Story: Tanti at de Oval

Tanti at de Oval is written in first person as the narrator tells the tale of Tanti Merle's antics from her preparation for the trip to the match to her behavior at the game. With the aid of colorful illustrations by Joan Camps- Campin, Keens-Douglas shares how Tanti Merle embarrassed herself and her companion at the Oval. Her antics include her large basket of goodies, her selection of a taxi bus and her loud cheering at the match. The story hits a climax as the match concludes and Tanti nearly caused a riot among the spectators. Keens-Douglas writes "Dat same Tanti Merle dat look as if butter can't melt in she mout. It take me 'bout two hours to get she out de Oval. She lose de basket an' de Parasol mash-up."

Caribbean Language & Life

Aspects of Caribbean life highlighted in Tanti at de Oval are the significance of cricket, the dialectal language and the camaraderie and rivalry fostered by local sports. In relation to the language, Tanti at de Oval is written in dialect but a glossary is provided to describe such terms as "jook out" which according to the writer means "to dig out with (a) sharp object."

Paul Keens-Douglas is a well-known Caribbean storyteller who uses rich dialect and colorful expression to tell his stories of Caribbean Life. Tanti at de Oval is one of his published works that narrates the tale of Tanti Merle's visit to a significant cricket match at the Oval in Trinidad. This book offers a delightful view of Caribbean life through Tanti Merle with heartening humor, intense expression, colorful language and colorful illustrations.