Haiti's Rich Culture Through 8 Haitian Novels by James ELLSMOOR

H-Haiti In Their Own Words: Haiti's Rich Culture Through 8 Haitian Novels by James ELLSMOOR

Discussion published by Marlene Daut on Thursday, December 20, 2018 In Their Own Words: Haiti's Rich Culture Through 8 Haitian Novels

BY James Ellsmoor

Haiti is the birthplace of a rich literary heritage that deserves more attention. Often painted in mainstream media as a country plagued by difficulties, Haitian entrepreneurs, artists and innovators are rewriting that narrative. The struggles that Haiti has faced do not overshadow its rich culture and history or the vibrant spirit of its people. Haitian literature reveals a more complete story of a nation, one that focuses on the beauty and resiliency of the island’s landscape and citizens. Reading the works of Haitian authors opens a window into this Caribbean nation's vibrant culture and tumultuous history.

I asked a range of experts for their recommendations and selected some of the most powerful and important works by Haitian authors. There are many fantastic novels written about Haiti by non- Haitians, such as Allende’s Island Beneath the Sea and Greene’s The Comedians. The classic book on

Citation: Marlene Daut. In Their Own Words: Haiti's Rich Culture Through 8 Haitian Novels by James ELLSMOOR. H-Haiti. 12-20-2018. https://networks.h-net.org/node/116721/discussions/3410678/their-own-words-haitis-rich-culture-through-8-haitian-novels Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. 1 H-Haiti

Toussaint L'Ouverture and the Haitian revolution, Trinidadian C.L.R. James’The Black Jacobins, is also recognized as a must-read for anyone interested in Haitian history. However, the focus here is not on works written about the country from an outsider's perspective. Instead, it is on books that reveal the nuances of Haitian culture and history through the stories of those shaped by it.

This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of the most significant works produced by Haitian authors. This list represents a diverse sample of the Haitian experience, providing readers with insights into the historical, cultural and literary landscapes of the island nation and its diaspora. Exploring the themes, contexts and perspectives offered in these works gives a glimpse into Haitian culture from the inside, through the eyes and words of those who are an integral part of both experiencing and reshaping Haiti’s prevailing narrative.

Read more here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2018/12/19/in-their-own-words-haitis-rich-culture-t hrough-8-haitian-novels/#8ff144852702