The Book of Mechtilde Book

"In the land of Jah, there lived a good woman named Mechtilde." So begins Anna Ruth Henriques's extraordinary tribute to her mother, Sheila Mechtilde Henriques, who was crowned Miss Jamaica in 1959 and became a beloved symbol of hope and optimism to her fellow Jamaicans in the years leading to the former colony's independence. Mechtilde's untimely death after a long struggle with cancer was cause for sorrow throughout Jamaica. This tribute is an illuminated manuscript inspired by the book of Job, and includes heartbreakingly beautiful poetry and prose alongside intricately detailed paintings. The Book of Mechtilde feels ancient, not only in its format (illuminated manuscripts are associated with medieval texts), but also in the intensity of these poetic lamentations, which are often tied to nature. Here, Henriques compares her loss to unseasonable weather: "No! Not yet / no rain / not the right time of year / not ready / prepared / to feel / what you are ready / to show me." Read More