A History of Haitian Literature

From nineteenth-century antislavery pamphleteering to accounts of ecological catastrophe in 21st-century fiction, Haitian literature has resounded across the globe since the nation's revolutionaries declared independence in 1804. From pre-revolutionary writing, including the emergence of Haitian Creole letters, to the long, largely francophone nineteenth century, to present-day Haitian writing in the English language,A History of Haitian Literature presents the political, cultural, and historical frameworks necessary to comprehend Haiti's vast literary output. Whether writing in Haiti or its wide-ranging diasporas, Haitian authors have boldly contributed to pressing conversations in global letters while reflecting Haiti's unique cultural and historical experiences. Considering an expansive array of poets, playwrights, and novelists - such as Baron de Vastey, Juste Chanlatte, Demesvar Delorme, Edwidge Danticat, Ren Depestre, Kettly Mars, Dany Laferrire, and Evelyne Trouillot - the contributors to this volume offer a fresh examination of a richly polyglot, transnational literary tradition that spans more than two centuries.