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You asked... We answer... This section attempts to answer some of the most frequently asked questions. We hope that it will prove useful to you. As time goes by, we plan to add other questions (and answers) that you might find helpful. |
What audience does the book target?It is a book for all ages. It targets mainly high school students of Haitian descent, but their parents can read it without getting bored. Moreover, young readers who have grown up in the United States will not likely see the point of some details (mostly sent to end-notes) that their parents may feel strongly about. The author assumes however that the reader is more or less familiar with some world history events such as the “Voyages of Discovery” and the 1789 French Revolution. In the United States, these topics are usually covered in seventh grade. Since the book might be hard to find in the future, it is better to secure your own copy now, even if your child is too young to read it. Back to Top |
How does the book compare with "The Black Jacobins" by C.L.R. James?"The Black Jacobins" does not cover the events between 1492 and the beginnings of the French colonization. "In the Name of Liberty" does. The analytical perspective on the Haitian Revolution is also different even though some information appear in both works. "In the Name of Liberty" is also simpler and easier to read. "The Black Jacobins" is a classic and should still be read. It is also a very rich book, and, reading "In the Name of Liberty" first might make life easier for you by providing you with the background necessary to understand James. Back to Top |
How does the book compare with the "Histoire d’Haiti" by Dorsainvil and the F.I. C.?The "Histoire d’Haiti Cours Superieur" by J-C. Dorsainvil and the F.I.C. was first published in 1924. That’s 80 years ago! "In the Name of Liberty" benefits from a better understanding of our history that has been made possible by decades of research and studies by Haitian and non-Haitian scholars since then. The "Histoire d’Haiti", however, covers (though not in depth) the 19th and 20th century; "In the Name of Liberty" does not. Back to Top |
Why stop at the assassination of Dessalines?It is not possible to cover in one volume the history of Haiti from 1492 to the end of the twentieth century. A “natural" cut-off point had to be found. To end the book with the Battle of Vertières or the Proclamation of Independence would leave our young readers wondering how we managed to go from such greatness to the pitiful state of affairs we experience today. Ending the book with the death of Dessalines opens a window on the origins of our present-day difficulties. It is with the death of Dessalines that our free fall began. Back to Top |
Will the book be translated in French? Creole?The book was written primarily with the young Americans of Haitian descent in mind, not the young Haitians back home. There is no guarantee that it will be translated in French or Haitian Creole in the future. It depends partly on how well the English version is received by the intended audience. Back to Top |
Will there be a second volume (1806-2004)?It depends on how the community receives this first volume. For now there is only a blueprint: a) it will not be a history of Haitian presidents b) it will stop at the first U.S. occupation of Haiti (1915). So... if you would like to read the sequence, buy the book and then send your comments. Back to Top |