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Haiti: The Duvaliers and Their Legacy
Recounts the depredations and corruption of the Duvalier regime in Haiti, detailing the excesses of both Papa and Baby Doc Duvalier and the grim state in which they left the country when the regime was finally overthrown
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
381 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 26, 2013
Dr. Abbott, now an historian, worked as a Reuters reporter in Haiti during much of the Duvalier period (1957-86) and was, in fact, the wife of the brother-in-law of General Henri Namphy, subsequent president of the country. This familial connection does not, however, appear to affect her treatment of Namphy except perhaps to humanize the criminal.
François Duvalier is also treated humanely. As a young doctor and published ethnologist, he was a decent fellow, a follower of his predecessor, the unusually competent Dumarsais Estimé, and was likely really popular when "elected". Soon, however, facing opposition and a restive, impoverished population, he transformed into a superstitious monster, having himself annointed "President for Life" and naming his own successor, his son Jean-Claude Duvalier.
While the elder Duvalier was personally materially moderate and well-educated in some respects, the son was an uneducated playboy when he assumed power at the age of eighteen. While the father was politically savvy, albeit bloodthirsty and sadistic, the son was naive. Unfortunately, the corrupt officials and businesspersons who had benefitted from his father's rule, continued under his and, with less supervision by their ostensible leader, exercised their power to extend their ability to rob the treasury and exploit the people.
Jean-Claude's involvement in politics much increased upon his marriage to Michèle Bennett Pasquet, a very willful divorcée whose family members were quick to take advantage of their newfound position in society. Abandoning his father's philosophy of negritude, Jean-Claude was substantially dominated by his spendthrift wife and her mulatto relations, increasing demands on the public purse and further immiserating the country.
Ultimately, of course, it came to an end...sort of. The next government, that, effectively, of the army, was little better and the hopes of the masses had been raised. The book ends in 1990 with a quotation from a young activist Catholic priest, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, later (1991) to become Haiti's first really elected president until overthrown twice, the second time (2004) at least with the connivance of the United States of America, long a meddler in Haitian affairs.
Given the recent earthquakes and today's report of over 200,000 dead in Haiti, this readable and darkly entertaining history is probably due for a new, hopefully expanded, edition.
François Duvalier is also treated humanely. As a young doctor and published ethnologist, he was a decent fellow, a follower of his predecessor, the unusually competent Dumarsais Estimé, and was likely really popular when "elected". Soon, however, facing opposition and a restive, impoverished population, he transformed into a superstitious monster, having himself annointed "President for Life" and naming his own successor, his son Jean-Claude Duvalier.
While the elder Duvalier was personally materially moderate and well-educated in some respects, the son was an uneducated playboy when he assumed power at the age of eighteen. While the father was politically savvy, albeit bloodthirsty and sadistic, the son was naive. Unfortunately, the corrupt officials and businesspersons who had benefitted from his father's rule, continued under his and, with less supervision by their ostensible leader, exercised their power to extend their ability to rob the treasury and exploit the people.
Jean-Claude's involvement in politics much increased upon his marriage to Michèle Bennett Pasquet, a very willful divorcée whose family members were quick to take advantage of their newfound position in society. Abandoning his father's philosophy of negritude, Jean-Claude was substantially dominated by his spendthrift wife and her mulatto relations, increasing demands on the public purse and further immiserating the country.
Ultimately, of course, it came to an end...sort of. The next government, that, effectively, of the army, was little better and the hopes of the masses had been raised. The book ends in 1990 with a quotation from a young activist Catholic priest, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, later (1991) to become Haiti's first really elected president until overthrown twice, the second time (2004) at least with the connivance of the United States of America, long a meddler in Haitian affairs.
Given the recent earthquakes and today's report of over 200,000 dead in Haiti, this readable and darkly entertaining history is probably due for a new, hopefully expanded, edition.
June 21, 2007
This book can be a bit sensational at times, but overall the narrative is compelling and it is a useful sketch of 1957-86 Haiti.
November 3, 2018
En este ensayo con tintes autobiográficos, Elizabeth Abbott cuenta la historia de los Duvalier. François (1907-1971) y Jean-Claude (1951-2014) gobernaron Haití con mano de hierro entre 1964 y 1986, sumiendo al país en la pobreza y el atraso. Una obra lúcida y curiosa, ya que la autora fue cuñada del general Henri Namphy (1932-2018), quien derrocó finalmente a Jean-Claude Duvalier en 1986.
August 20, 2015
Excellent, insider's account of the Duvaliers' 28-year reign of terror wrought on Haiti. I only wish I would've realized that the author updated her work in 2011's Haiti: A Shattered Nation (by adding subsequent chapters about Haiti through the terrible 2010 earthquake) before I purchased THIS book.
I'm surprised the Jean-Claude "Bebe Doc" Duvalier story hasn't been made into a cable TV mini-series: it's got everything - sex, drugs, murder, greed. It's really hard to believe that the excesses detailed in Abbott's book actually happened! Sadly, the horrors of both regimes (of father and son) were morbidly real.
I'm surprised the Jean-Claude "Bebe Doc" Duvalier story hasn't been made into a cable TV mini-series: it's got everything - sex, drugs, murder, greed. It's really hard to believe that the excesses detailed in Abbott's book actually happened! Sadly, the horrors of both regimes (of father and son) were morbidly real.
March 11, 2015
The ongoing terror of politics in Haiti was brought forth for me in this book. While I have never discounted the horrors I have heard, I failed to understand the endemic proportions of what I understand as madness, pathological violence. Though heavy, the book reads well, and it is easy to cross reference within the book to re-read and remember the different players as they come back throughout the history it covers.
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February 10, 2014I didnt complete. But, however, it kept my interest and the little (3/4) contended my knowledge of that era of life for Aiti.
June 15, 2018
I am glad I read this book. i needed many breaks from all the violence I read about within these pages. After reading the sources section i realize how important it was for the people who actually lived during these brutal times to share their story in their own words. I am most proud of my family because it takes courage and bravery to leave your home in search of a better life into a land that offers more opportunities. I wouldn't be here without my ancestors and I am so grateful.
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