Friday, January 22, 2010

Best 10 books on Haiti

Amy Wilentz is the author of several books, including The Rainy Season: Haiti Since Duvalier. She teaches journalism at UC Irvine in California. For Forbes, she named her best ten books on Haiti.

One title on the list:
The Comedians, by Graham Greene, (1966, Bodley Head, $37.95)

An evocative introduction to the Haiti of Papa Doc Duvalier and the Tontons Macoute, his secret police. Over time this book becomes more and more important and meaningful. It helps explain the fervor of expats who've chosen Haiti as a second homeland. Add to this Mark Kurlansky's wonderful short story, "The White Man in the Tree," and you'll understand a lot about the romance of this place, and why people are pouring their own money and energy into helping out at this moment of grave crisis.
Read about the other books on the list.

Visit Amy Wilentz's website.

--Marshal Zeringue