The Gleaner remembers Jamaican author C. Everard Palmer, praising him for leaving “a rich heritage of Caribbean literature.” The article focuses on his achievements and literary legacy, highlighting his last novel, A Time to Say Goodbye (2006). C. Everard Palmer died on June 16 in Mississauga, Canada.

Palmer, who authored more than fifteen books in children’s literature and has been recognized for his great work in Jamaican letters, received many awards including: a Certificate of Merit by the Jamaican Reading Association for contribution to Jamaican children’s literature and the 1977 Silver Musgrave Medal for Literature from the Institute of Jamaica. In 1999 he was honored at a ceremony held in Hanover, in which Canadian High Commissioner John Robinson described Palmer as “the master of the rural Caribbean tale for any readership, adult or juvenile.”

Description of A Time to Say Goodbye: This is the last book in the trilogy of the Johnson saga. The story is told by Donna Rae Johnson, Rami’s wife, and a teacher. Jake has long left Kendal, but he returns – in a way. Once again, Jake’s plans are left in ruins as he fails to make the comeback he hoped for.

C. Everard Palmer was born in Kendal in the Jamaican parish of Hanover. He had his early education in the rural community after which he attended Mico Teachers’ College in Kingston. He worked as a journalist with the Gleaner Company before starting a career as an author. All his stories have so far been inspired by the memories of his childhood, and though the people and incidents are imagined they could easily have been real. He has been living in Canada for the past 25 years. These popular works of junior fiction are all exciting stories of life in rural Jamaica, told with warmth, affection and insight.

For original article, see http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130622/ent/ent3.html

Book description from http://www.macmillan-caribbean.com/book.aspx?path=/pages.aspx/generalbooks/children_s_story_books/c._everard_palmer/&id=481