Making sense of past time : novel

Through the prism of memory, middle-aged Harry sets out to recapture his youthful years. As a young man, Harry is not happy about living in his provincial hometown in "the Caribbean". He is easily bored, restless, and afraid that his life would amount to nothing if he remains there. And so Harry ventures out to a distant land to make something of himself. He also wishes to become the "captain of his ship," by distancing himself from an authoritative father. He chooses a metropolitan city - London - where he expects "greener pastures" while treasuring the dream of one day reaching the shores of America. But there are surprises in store for him, as well as a challenge to his character.