Mr Loverman

This article is about the novel written by Bernardine Evaristo. For the song by Shabba Ranks, see Mr. Loverman.

Mr Loverman is the seventh novel written by British-Nigerian author Bernardine Evaristo. Published by Penguin Books, UK, in 2013^[1] and Akashic Books, US, in 2014,^[2][3] Mr Loverman explores the life of Britain's older Caribbean community, through the perspective of a 74-year-old Antiguan-Londoner and closet homosexual, and his wife Carmel whose voice we hear in alternate chapters.

Mr Loverman

First edition
Author	Bernardine Evaristo
Language	English
Publisher	Penguin (UK); Akashic Books (USA)
Publication date	August 2013 (UK); April 2014 (USA)
Publication place	United Kingdom
Media type	Print (paperback)
ISBN	978-1617752896
Followed by	Hello Mum

Reception

On The Omnivore, based on British press reviews, the book received an "omniscore" of 4.0 out of 5.^[4] Culture Critic assessed critical response as an aggregated score of 82% based on British press reviews.^[5][6]

The novel was positively reviewed in The Guardian.^[7] In 2014, Mr Loverman won the Jerwood Uncovered Prize.^[8]

In 2024 Bernadine Evaristo wrote in The Guardian about how she created Barrington's Caribbean voice and that Carmel's chapters were added to the novel at a late stage after feedback from the publisher.^[9]

Adaptation

In June 2023, the BBC and Fable Pictures announced an adaptation of the novel into an eight-part television series.^[10] The series began broadcasting on 14 October 2024, and starred Lennie James, Ariyon Bakare and Sharon D. Clarke.^[11][12]