Elizabeth Nunez

The World of Letters lost a true lion when Elizabeth Nunez passed away on November 11, 2024 at the age of eighty. I remember vividly the evening in late 2008 when Elizabeth pulled me aside at an event at Brooklyn Borough Hall to ask if Akashic Books might be interested in publishing her next novel, Anna In-Between. I couldn’t believe my ears and asked her to repeat what she had asked me. As a longtime student and burgeoning publisher of Caribbean literature, I could never have imagined that Elizabeth Nunez, one of the great living writers from the region (she was born in Trinidad and moved to the US in 1963) would want our logo printed on the back of one of her novels. It was a tremendous vote of confidence, and little did I know that we would go on to publish her next four novels, plus a beautiful memoir, Not for Everyday Use; and eventually reissue three of her earlier novels as well.

Elizabeth was a profoundly talented writer, especially in the depth of her observations of the conflicted psychologies of the human predicament. Her portrayals of family strife, as well as family triumphs, were unparalleled in their insight and acuity. In this regard, the influence of William Shakespeare on her work was evident to all careful readers—and to anyone who knew Elizabeth well. Those who knew her well also understood what a deeply perceptive and sensitive person she was on a personal level—and how generous, attentive, and warm she could be to those she respected, loved, and liked.

I am so radically honored to have been Elizabeth’s publisher for the last fifteen years of her life, and remain committed to disseminating her art far and wide. Indeed, her fans are spread across all continents of this troubled globe, and at a moment in history where so many people are starved of hope, dreaming of a more empathetic world citizenry, we are both diminished by her passing and uplifted by the fact that her books remain in print and appreciated by so many people. Young readers, including those not even born yet, will continue to be enthralled, provoked, and enlightened by her gorgeous prose and her transcendent understanding of the human condition.

Rest in peace, Elizabeth, you are in our hearts always.

Johnny Temple, Publisher
Akashic Books