Editors’ Pick
Designed to Feel by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feelby Peter Burchardt — on emotions, evolution & the science of feeling
View on Amazon →
Cover of The Mermaid of Black Conch
Literary Fiction· Trinidad and Tobago

The Mermaid of Black Conch

by Monique Roffey
Aggregate Editorial Score100/100
★Women's Prize for Fiction★Costa Book Award
Published 2020230 pagesEnglish
Buy on Amazon →

About This Book

When Monique Roffey published The Mermaid of Black Conch in 2020, it quickly found its place in the broader tradition of literary fiction. A mermaid who was once a Caribbean woman, cursed by European fishermen, is caught by an American sport fisherman and slowly becomes human again with the help of a local man. Roffey's Costa Prize-winning novel is a lyrical, feminist fable of colonialism and love. Themes of Caribbean, colonialism, love run through the work. The book has received recognition from Women's Prize for Fiction 2020 and Costa Book Award 2020.

Book Details

AuthorMonique Roffey
Published2020
Country of Origin🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
LanguageEnglish
Pages230
Category📖 Literary Fiction
ISBN9781916077836
Editorial Score100/100
About the Category

📖 Literary Fiction

Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

Explore all Literary Fiction books →
Country of Origin

🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago

This book is part of Trinidad and Tobago's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from Trinidad and Tobago →

Editorial Assessment

Monique Roffey published The Mermaid of Black Conch in 2020, and it has since become one of the more widely recognised works of literary fiction from Trinidad and Tobago. The book's treatment of Caribbean, colonialism, love, magic accounts for much of its enduring reputation. The book's place in the literary record rests on its presence across major prize lists and critical surveys. Among its recognitions: Women's Prize for Fiction 2020; Costa Book Award 2020. Its aggregate editorial score of 100/100 reflects recognition from 2 independent editorial sources, from international prizes to specialist critical journals. What distinguishes The Mermaid of Black Conch is how it handles its central concerns — Caribbean, colonialism, love, magic — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it. The Mermaid of Black Conch reflects Monique Roffey's place in a wider literary tradition. The book's concerns resonate with Trinidad and Tobago's broader cultural preoccupations, even as they reach beyond any single national context.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 2 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Women's Prize for Fiction
winner · global
202094
Costa Book Award
winner · national
202075
✍️
About the Author
Monique Roffey
Trinidad and Tobago
View Author →

Monique Roffey is a celebrated author from Trinidad and Tobago known for influential works of literary fiction.

Designed to Feel
Bestseller by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feel
Why Evolution Built Your Emotions, and How to Make Them Work for You
“The most eye-opening book on emotions I’ve ever read.”
Get It on Amazon →Paperback & Kindle

What to Read Next

Cover of Midnight's Children
literary-fiction

Midnight's Children

Salman Rushdie· 1981
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The God of Small Things
literary-fiction

The God of Small Things

Arundhati Roy· 1997
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Remains of the Day
literary-fiction

The Remains of the Day

Kazuo Ishiguro· 1989
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The White Tiger
literary-fiction

The White Tiger

Aravind Adiga· 2008
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Road
literary-fiction

The Road

Cormac McCarthy· 2007
★Pulitzer Prize★Hugo Award
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of Wolf Hall
historical-fiction

Wolf Hall

Hilary Mantel· 2009
★Booker Prize★Costa Book Award
Editorial Score100/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Mermaid of Black Conch about?

A mermaid who was once a Caribbean woman, cursed by European fishermen, is caught by an American sport fisherman and slowly becomes human again with the help of a local man. Roffey's Costa Prize-winning novel is a lyrical, feminist fable of colonialism and love.

Who wrote The Mermaid of Black Conch?

The Mermaid of Black Conch was written by Monique Roffey, from Trinidad and Tobago. First published in 2020.

What awards has The Mermaid of Black Conch won?

The Mermaid of Black Conch has received the following awards and honours: Women's Prize for Fiction 2020; Costa Book Award 2020.

Is The Mermaid of Black Conch worth reading?

The Mermaid of Black Conch is one of the most critically acclaimed books ever written, with an aggregate editorial score of 100/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 2 editorial sources. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in Caribbean, colonialism, love.

Where can I buy The Mermaid of Black Conch?

You can buy The Mermaid of Black Conch on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is The Mermaid of Black Conch?

The Mermaid of Black Conch is classified as Literary Fiction. Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

What country is The Mermaid of Black Conch from?

The Mermaid of Black Conch originates from Trinidad and Tobago's literary tradition. Explore more books from Trinidad and Tobago on our country page.

Popular on 50 Best Books

Best Science Fiction Books of All TimeScience FictionBooker Prize Winners — Complete List & GuideLiterary PrizesNobel Prize in Literature — Every Winner Since 1901Literary PrizesClassic Literature Reading List — 50 Essential BooksReading GuidesBest Books for Beginners — 20 Easy Reads for New BookloversReading Guides

Explore More

📖More Literary FictionBrowse all Literary Fiction books🇹🇹Books from Trinidad and Tobago🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago literature📅2020s BooksPublished in the 2020s🏆Top 50 RankingsThe greatest books of all time