Levy, Andrea (1956– )

English writer. She draws on her Jamaican roots to explore themes of race, multiculturalism, and alienation in her novels. These include Every Light in the House Burnin' (1994), Never Far from Nowhere (1996), Fruit of the Lemon (1999), and Small Island (2004), for which she won the 2004 Orange Prize.

Levy was born in London, England, to Jamaican parents, and her novels were often autobiographical, exploring the obstacles faced by children of Jamaican immigrants to the UK. Her first two novels feature Jamaican families living in London and her third depicts a young black London woman visiting Jamaica and learning about her family background. Small Island is set in 1948 and explores cultural shifts and race relations through Jamaican and English characters.