Quote by Wilson Harris: “The past exists side by side with the present, not behind it.”

This quote challenges the linear view of time, suggesting that history isn't simply over and done. Instead, the past continues to actively influence and shape the present moment, meaning we live with its echoes and unresolved elements constantly, impacting our identity and reality.

Emerging from a colonial past and seeking to define a distinct Caribbean identity, Harris's philosophy countered conventional historical narratives, emphasizing a multi-layered understanding of time and memory.

Guyanese novelist and literary theorist whose experimental novels explored the layered landscapes and multicultural histories of Guyana. His 1960 novel Palace of the Peacock is considered one of the most original works of Caribbean fiction and a landmark of postcolonial imaginative literature.