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General Sun, My Brother (CARAF Books: Caribbean and African Literature Translated from French),New
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The first novel of the Haitian novelist Jacques Stephen Alexis, General Sun, My Brother appears here for the first time in English. Its depiction of the nightmarish journey of the unskilled laborer Hilarion and his wife from the slums of PortauPrince to the cane fields of the Dominican Republic has brought comparisons to the work of Emile Zola, Andr Malraux, Richard Wright, and Ernest Hemingway.Alexis, whose mother was a descendant of the Revolutionary General JeanJacques Dessalines, was already a mature thinker when he published General Sun, My Brother (Compre Gnral Soleil) in France in 1955. A militant Marxist himself, Alexis championed a form of the 'marvelous realism' developed by the Cuban novelist Alejo Carpentier, who called for a vision of historical reality from the standpoint of slaves for whom the supernatural was as much a part of everyday experience as were social and other existential realities.General Sun, My Brother opens as Hilarion is arrested for stealing a wallet and imprisoned with an activist named Pierre Roumela fictional double for the novelist Jacques Roumainwho schools him in the Marxist view of history. On his release, Hilarion meets ClaireHeureuse and they settle down together. Hilarion labors in sisal processing and mahogany polishing while his partner sets up a small grocery store. After losing everything in a criminally set fire, the couple joins the desperate emigration to the Dominican Republic. Hilarion finds work as a sugarcane cutter, but the workers soon become embroiled in a strike that ends in the 'Dominican Vespers,' the 1937 massacre pf Haitian workers by the Dominican army. The novel personifies the sun as the ally, brother, and leader of the peasants. Mortally wounded in crossing the Massacre River back into Haiti, Hilarion urges ClaireHeureuse to remarry and to continue to work for a Haiti where people can live in dignity and peace.
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- Q: What is the main theme of 'General Sun, My Brother'? A: The main theme of 'General Sun, My Brother' revolves around the struggles of Haitian laborers, focusing on Hilarion and his wife's harrowing journey from poverty in Port-au-Prince to the sugarcane fields of the Dominican Republic, illustrating the social and existential challenges faced by marginalized communities.
- Q: Who is the author of 'General Sun, My Brother'? A: The author of 'General Sun, My Brother' is Jacques Stephen Alexis, a Haitian novelist known for his Marxist views and contributions to Caribbean literature.
- Q: Is 'General Sun, My Brother' available in English? A: 'General Sun, My Brother' is available in English for the first time, making it accessible to a broader audience who are interested in Caribbean and African literature.
- Q: What type of book is 'General Sun, My Brother'? A: 'General Sun, My Brother' is categorized as a literary novel that combines elements of realism and social critique, showcasing the plight of Haitian workers.
- Q: How many pages does 'General Sun, My Brother' have? A: 'General Sun, My Brother' has a total of 299 pages, providing readers with a comprehensive narrative of Hilarion's experiences.
- Q: What is the condition of the book being sold? A: The book is listed as 'Used Book in Good Condition,' ensuring that it has been previously owned but is still in a satisfactory state for reading.
- Q: When was 'General Sun, My Brother' published? A: 'General Sun, My Brother' was published on November 29, 1999, after its original release in French in 1955.
- Q: What binding type does 'General Sun, My Brother' have? A: 'General Sun, My Brother' is available in paperback binding, making it lightweight and easy to handle for readers.
- Q: What can readers expect from the writing style of Jacques Stephen Alexis? A: Readers can expect a writing style that reflects 'marvelous realism,' blending social critique with elements of magical realism, drawing comparisons to renowned authors like Emile Zola and Richard Wright.
- Q: Does 'General Sun, My Brother' address historical events? A: Yes, the novel addresses historical events such as the 'Dominican Vespers,' the 1937 massacre of Haitian workers, providing a backdrop for Hilarion's struggles and the broader socio-political context.