Caribbean Review of Books
An independent Caribbean literary magazine reviewing books of Caribbean interest and publishing original literary and cultural writing.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The Caribbean Review of Books (CRB) is a Caribbean literary magazine based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Its editorial remit covers books by Caribbean authors, books about the Caribbean, and works relevant to Caribbean literary, historical, political, and cultural life. In addition to reviews, the magazine publishes fiction, poetry, interviews, essays, and other forms of literary and cultural journalism. It has served both as a reviewing publication and as a forum for Caribbean literary criticism and regional publishing. The title has existed in two distinct periods. The original Caribbean Review of Books was established in 1991 by the University of the West Indies Publishers' Association in Mona, Jamaica. Edited by Samuel B. Bandara, an acquisition librarian at the University of the West Indies, the quarterly publication combined reviews with bibliographical information, interviews, and publishing news. Its stated ambition was to provide a comprehensive source of information about Caribbean books. That first edition of the magazine ended publication in 1994 after important University of the West Indies Publishers' Association resources were incorporated into the newly established University of the West Indies Press and external funding could not be obtained. A revival was among the early aims of the Caribbean Publishers Network, commonly known as Capnet, which was founded in 2000. When funding proved difficult once again, Media and Editorial Projects Limited (MEP), a small Trinidad-based publishing and editorial company and a Capnet founding member, assumed responsibility for the project. The revived magazine launched in May 2004 under publisher Jeremy Taylor and editor Nicholas Laughlin. It was designed for a general readership rather than only an academic audience and initially appeared as a quarterly print publication supported by subscriptions and advertising. Its coverage included fiction, poetry, biography, history, current affairs, art, and culture. The revived CRB became an independent non-profit organisation in 2006. It received support from MEP and obtained a grant from the Prince Claus Foundation. Print publication was suspended in mid-2009, reflecting the financial and operational difficulties that had affected the title across both of its publishing periods. In May 2010, the magazine was relaunched as an online publication, marking its sixth anniversary and establishing its digital format as the principal channel for its editorial work. In November 2013, CRB entered into a partnership with the Bocas Lit Fest, Trinidad and Tobago's annual literature festival. The partnership connected the magazine with a major regional literary event while preserving its editorial independence. Through its online presence and regional literary networks, CRB continues to function as a specialist platform for criticism, literary discovery, and discussion of Caribbean writing and publishing.
History
The name Caribbean Review of Books has been used by two related but separate publishing projects. The first magazine was founded in 1991 by the University of the West Indies Publishers' Association in Mona, Jamaica. Under editor Samuel B. Bandara, it appeared quarterly and combined conventional book reviewing with bibliographical material, interviews, and information about Caribbean publishing. Its mission was broad: to be a central source of news and reference information about books connected with the Caribbean. The original publication ended in 1994 when resources associated with the publishers' association were absorbed into the newly created University of the West Indies Press and external financing was unavailable. The possibility of reviving the title became one of the early objectives of the Caribbean Publishers Network, established in 2000. The initiative encountered the same funding constraints that had affected the first magazine. Media and Editorial Projects Limited, a small publishing and editorial company based in Trinidad and a founding member of the network, eventually took responsibility for bringing the publication back. The revived CRB launched in May 2004, with Jeremy Taylor as publisher and Nicholas Laughlin as editor. The second incarnation was conceived as a quarterly literary magazine for a broad readership. Its core content consisted of reviews of fiction, poetry, biography, history, current affairs, art, and culture books, particularly where the subject matter or authorship had a Caribbean connection. It also carried original literary work and other forms of cultural writing. The project was supported through subscriptions and advertising rather than being positioned solely as an academic journal. In 2006, the revived CRB adopted an independent non-profit structure. Media and Editorial Projects Limited continued to support it, and the magazine secured a grant from the Prince Claus Foundation. Despite these developments, sustaining a print periodical remained difficult. Print publication was suspended in mid-2009. In May 2010, the title was relaunched online, coinciding with the sixth anniversary of its modern revival and shifting the magazine's principal publishing model from print to digital distribution. The online publication subsequently developed relationships with regional literary institutions and events. In November 2013, CRB began working with the Bocas Lit Fest, Trinidad and Tobago's annual literature festival. The arrangement gave the magazine a connection to a prominent literary gathering while the publication continued to operate with editorial independence. Its enduring role is that of a specialist Caribbean literary platform: it reviews books, documents regional publishing, presents original writing, and creates space for critical discussion that can reach readers beyond the islands.
- 2013
Bocas Lit Fest partnership begins
[1]CRB began a partnership with the Bocas Lit Fest while maintaining editorial independence.
- 2010
Online relaunch
[1]The magazine resumed publication online in May.
- 2009
Print edition suspended
[1]CRB suspended print publishing during the year.
- 2006
Independent non-profit structure adopted
[1]The revived publication became an independent non-profit organisation and received support from the Prince Claus Foundation.
- 2004
Magazine revived
[1]Media and Editorial Projects Limited relaunched CRB in May as a quarterly print magazine for a general readership.
- 2000
Caribbean Publishers Network established
[1]The Caribbean Publishers Network identified a revival of the magazine as one of its early objectives.
- 1994
First publication ends
[1]The original magazine ceased publication after university publishing resources were reorganised and external funding could not be secured.
- 1991
Original magazine founded in Jamaica
[1]The University of the West Indies Publishers' Association established the first Caribbean Review of Books in Mona, Jamaica, as a quarterly publication.
Products and positioning
An independent, regionally focused literary publication that connects Caribbean books, authors, critics, publishers, and readers. CRB combines accessible reviewing with serious literary and cultural commentary and gives particular visibility to writing from and about the Caribbean.
Print literary magazine · 1991
Caribbean Review of Books print magazine
The original publication ran quarterly from 1991 to 1994 in Jamaica. The revived magazine also initially appeared in quarterly print form from 2004, carrying book reviews, bibliographical information, interviews, and literary and cultural features. Print publication was suspended in 2009.
Digital literary magazine · 2010
Caribbean Review of Books online publication
The magazine's online edition was launched in May 2010 after the suspension of print publishing. It provides a digital platform for reviews of books by Caribbean authors or about the Caribbean, along with original fiction, poetry, interviews, essays, and cultural commentary.
Brand decisions
2010
Move to online publishingStrategyBackground
Following the suspension of its print edition, CRB needed a sustainable way to continue its editorial mission.
Action taken
The magazine was relaunched online in May 2010.
Aftermath
Digital publication became the principal format for the magazine's continuing literary and book-review work.
2009
Suspend print publishingStrategyBackground
The revived magazine faced continuing difficulty sustaining external financial support for its print operation.
Action taken
Print publication was suspended in the middle of 2009.
Aftermath
The title returned in May 2010 as an online publication.
Sources2 sources
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