The newest book just published in St. Martin by House of Nehesi (HNP) is in bookstores this week, said HNP projects director Lasana M. Sekou.
Haiti and Trans-Caribbean Literary Identity / Haití y la transcaribeñidad literaria by Emilio Jorge Rodríguez, was launched in Venezuela on October 19, 2011, and continues HNP’s modest but noticeable foray into multilingual books.
The new English-Spanish book is "a remarkable collection of essays adapted to our Caribbean context," said Maximilien Laroche, noted Haitian author from Canada’s Université Laval.
The Dominican author and professor Silvio Torres-Saillant said that, "This work of Cuban colleague Jorge Emilio Rodríguez should be listed among the few books that can be said to truly advance the understanding of the subject they address."
Topics covered are the Haitian novel in the 20th century and the search for Amerindian and African origins in the masterful work of Alejo Carpentier. Also, "Creole transgressions" between Haiti and the Dominican Republic – which is sure to raise some eyebrows or even tempers but definitely imparting new intelligences. Then there’s an utterly rare and captivating discussion placing Cuba’s grand poet Nicolas Guillen on a visit to Haiti and at the "elite" center of the country’s debate on race and culture, said Sekou.
"The essential subject areas of Haiti and Trans-Caribbean Literary Identity are uniquely interpreted. I would dare say that this book is a missing link for most in our fuller knowledge and experiences of Caribbean literature, of how we think and why we live as we do in this region," said Sekou.
At the book launch Prof. Douglas Uzcátegui called Rodríguez "one of the most authoritative voices in the Caribbean and from the Caribbean. His career as a researcher reflects a long and sustained work that exposes a tour on orality and writing of the diverse, complex and rich Caribbean culture."
The launch at the Universidad De Oriente-Nueva Esparta followed Rodriguez as guest speaker to the 29th National Meeting of Teachers and Researchers of Linguistics (ENDIL). Haiti and Trans-Caribbean Literary Identity was one of two books launched at the conference.
A well-published author, Rodríguez has lectured at universities and conferences in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the USA. During his October stint in Venezuela he conducted an intensive Caribbean literature course at the Universidad de Mérida.
Maria Teresa Ortega translated the writings to English from the original Spanish. The book’s cover features a brilliant watercolor, "Soul’s Flight," by famous US artist Keith Mallet.
The cover was designed by Sundiata Lake.
The English and Spanish edition of Haiti and Trans-Caribbean Literary Identity is available at Van Dorp, Arnia’s, Amazon.com, and spdbooks.org bookstores, said Sekou.