Edna Manley came to Jamaica in 1922 as the wife of a national hero and mother to Jamaica’s fifth prime minister. But she had her own contributions to make as artist, mother, wife, behind-the-scenes politician, mystic, and seer. In this intimate biography, her granddaughter Rachel Manley tells Edna’s remarkable story from her artistic achievements to the demons that haunted her. Set in imperial England and colonial and postcolonial Jamaica, Horses in Her Hair profiles a larger-than-life figure who left an indelible mark on every culture in which she lived.
Edna Manley came to Jamaica in 1922 as the wife of a national hero and mother to Jamaica’s fifth prime minister. But she had her own contributions to make as artist, mother, wife, behind-the-scenes politician, mystic, and seer. In this intimate biography, her granddaughter Rachel Manley tells Edna’s remarkable story from her artistic achievements to the demons that haunted her. Set in imperial England and colonial and postcolonial Jamaica, Horses in Her Hair profiles a larger-than-life figure who left an indelible mark on every culture in which she lived.