In her inaugural speech at the Collège de France in 2019, Haitian-born author Yanick Lahens spoke about the importance of recognizing and making room to the cultural diversity expressed by Francophone countries: “Bringing French-speaking worlds to life requires new narratives that give voice to the sets of knowledge, cultures and forms of otherness that constitute them.” The present course proposes to follow in particular the path of Haitian narratives, from the founding event of its modern history, the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804), to the contribution of Haitian authors to social sciences in the 19th century, namely Anténor Firmin’s treatise on anthropology, to the exploration of some of the most relevant topics of 20th-century Haitian literature, such as exile, national identity, as well as the blend of realism and the marvelous that chracterizes a significant part of it. Readings will include works by Emeric Bergeaud, Frankétienne, René Depestre, and Marie-Vieux Chauvet.
- Enseignant: Chiara Ludovica Maria Nifosi