Marc Edmund Jones

Evan Gordon Newton Jones, born in Jamaica in 1927, was a writer educated in Jamaica, the United States, and England, who became a significant figure in Jamaican literature. His work spans poetry, plays for theatre and television, novels, non-fiction, and anthologies of Caribbean folklore. Jones is particularly recognized for his poem "The Song of the Banana Man," which has been widely anthologized and is taught in schools, influencing subsequent generations of poets.

His early life in Portland Parish, Jamaica, was shaped by his prominent parents: his father a wealthy planter and his mother an American Quaker missionary, educator, and social worker. This upbringing instilled in him a strong sense of purpose and a love for the arts. After attending schools in Jamaica and the United States, where he excelled academically and athletically, Jones pursued further education at Oxford University. His experiences, including relief work in Palestine and his time in England, informed his writing career, which began with television plays and extended to other literary forms. Jones passed away in 2023.

Evan Gordon Newton Jones was born in Jamaica in 1927 into a family of influence. His father was a substantial planter and local dignitary, while his mother was an American Quaker missionary, educator, and social worker. This environment fostered an early appreciation for poetry and theatre, with both parents actively involved in reciting verse, preaching, and directing pageants. Jones received his early education in Jamaica, attending Munro College, and later studied in the United States at Haverford College, where he was noted for both academic and athletic achievements, earning the nickname "the educated toe." It was during his time at Haverford that he began writing plays, including one based on the Jamaican legend of the White Witch of Rose Hall.

Following his graduation from Haverford, Jones engaged in relief work in the Gaza Strip through the American Friends Service Committee, assisting refugees in the aftermath of the Arab–Israeli War. This experience, along with travels in the Middle East, provided material for his first television play. He then attended Oxford University, where he developed his intention to merge English and Jamaican literary traditions. This ambition culminated in his seminal poem, "The Song of the Banana Man," written in 1952. After Oxford, Jones faced initial career setbacks in the United States before returning to England. There, his literary career gained momentum with the production of his television play "The Widows of Jaffa" in 1957, followed by "In a Backward Country" in 1959, which drew upon his family experiences and Jamaican political context.

Evan Jones is celebrated as one of Jamaica's most accomplished international screenwriters. His poem "The Song of the Banana Man" is a cornerstone of his legacy, widely anthologized and recognized for its innovative use of patois within English metrical verse. This poem has significantly influenced subsequent generations of poets, including dub poets. Beyond poetry, Jones authored novels, plays for theatre and television that spanned four decades, and collections of Caribbean folklore. His work often explored themes rooted in his Jamaican heritage and experiences, contributing significantly to the literary landscape of the Caribbean and beyond. He passed away in 2023, leaving behind a rich body of work.

“I think because my parents were both very interesting and powerful [...] they had a strong sense of purpose. [...] We were all brought up to believe we had to be somebody and do something, in a very small way like the Kennedy family in the States. [...] It was your job as a human being, because you were born into the manor, to do something with it. [...] I chose to be a writer.”