Roger Mais’ Brother Man is a striking novel. Published in 1954, the story focuses on Brother Man and his neighborhood lane in Kingston, Jamaica. The novel is notable for its sympathetic treatment of Rastafarianism during a time when the movement was marginalized and misunderstood by Jamaican society. This edition’s introduction notes the play of language throughout the novel, asserting a jazz like quality to the rapid dialogue written in Jamaican patois.

Language here along with the setting roots the book in social realism which later transcends into a magical realism as Brother Man engages with his community. The novel is centered on this engagement. Brother Man is a Rastafarian, a deeply spiritual man, Bodhisattva-like (or with the novel’s imagery, Christ-like), who functions as a healer in his community. The major subplot focuses on the relationship between Girlie and Papacita who are engaged in an abusive relationship. Mais writes Girlie’s character with a vibrant energy, the language becoming physical and her scenes memorable. Papacita, a crook, represents the opposite of Brother Man. He’s a leech on society and spends much of his time trying to lure away Minette, a woman with a deep emotional bond with Brother Man. Papacita works to undermine Brother Man and his machinations along with a violent turn against Rastafarians in Kingston lead to Brother Man’s vicious beating.

Mais engages with many overt religious themes throughout the novel. Brother Man is a healer and deeply religious man, but not the only Rastafarian in the book. Another man, who practices obeah, lures one of Brother Man’s flock away. Portrayed as money loving, as opposed to the unmaterialistic Brother Man, the obeah practices are described as dark rituals leading to downfall. Brother Man is closely associated with Christianity. His character performs miraculous healing and in the end sacrifices himself to society, allowing a mob to expiate themselves with his blood-letting. The imagery becomes almost heavy handed as Brother Man’s apparent death is overcome after a three convalescence from which he rises.

Brother Man is a novel that borders on tragedy. Life is hard and violent, each character has experienced the pains of life. Mais focuses on the working class aspirations, fears, and their struggles to make ends meet. Papacita and Brother Man both rise together, given divergent paths based on our worst and our best impulses. Mais ends on a note of hope despite the harsh realities he portrays making Brother Man a blend of historical, social, and ultimately moral novel. ( )