At the Bottom of the River

work by Kincaid

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July 19, 2026

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At the Bottom of the River is a collection of short stories by Jamaica Kincaid, published in 1983. The work explores themes common in Kincaid's writing, such as family relationships, Caribbean culture, feminism, and postcolonialism. Her prose is characterized by a blend of lyricism and anger. The title itself, "river bottom," refers to low-lying land along a river. Kincaid's literary breakthrough was the short story "Girl," published in The New Yorker in 1978, which presents a mother's advice to her daughter.12

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Jamaica Kincaid
Literary works
In 1983 Kincaid’s first book, At the Bottom of the River, a collection of short stories and reflections, was published. Setting a pattern for her later work, it mixes lyricism and anger. Annie John (1984) and Lucy (1990) are novels but autobiographical in nature, as are most of Kincaid’s subsequent…
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In 1983 Kincaid’s first book, At the Bottom of the River, a collection of short stories and reflections, was published. Setting a pattern for her later work, it mixes lyricism and anger. Annie John (1984) and Lucy (1990) are novels but autobiographical in nature, as are most of Kincaid’s subsequent…
Read More