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Haiti: A Shattered Nation
More information to be announced soon on this forthcoming title from Penguin USA.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
491 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 18, 2018
Another Canadian leftist author with her barely hidden anti-Americanism exposed. I'm not sure why it is that Canadian leftists are so constantly disparaging about the same America that helped protect their asses during the Cold War but mostly they do. I'm only surprised she didn't blame the 2010 earthquake on America. Perhaps she saving that for the next book? She seems to blame everyone but the Haitians for their problems.
Glaringly inaccurate and anti-Christian/anti-American. In the Epilogue the author describes the earthquake on January 13, 2010. The day after the horrific event occurred. In the midst of the book she displays a photograph of Sans Souci Palace which she titles "Citadelle Leferriere." This would be an astounding mountaintop castle and certainly would deserve a photograph. At one point she speaks briefly of Tortuga. She inaccurately describes it as the former hideout of British pirates and their wives. My readings reveal that it was the French who dwelt here, largely involved in same sex unions.
In Chapter 2 she displays her animosity of the United States in describing the American occupation of Haiti as opportunistic, predatory and cruel. As a footnote she does concede that the Americans built a thousand miles of roads, automated telephone exchanges, 147 medical clinics and 15 hospitals and the Haitian currency was stabilized. The government was steamlined, corruption was curtailed, and debt was repaid. The fact that methods were frequently culturally insensitive and that the Marines were doubtless prejudiced is certain. Having grown up in Canada as an American I cringe at the attitude of the author toward the US. Her attitude reveals her leftist ideology. She belies her countries dependence on the US for economy, culture and military protection. Sour grapes.The author later labels protestant churches as "cults." I think those who might spend their money on this book deserve to know her agnostic, vitriolic bent.
In summary, this book has it's moments. The description of the Duvalier years was quite interesting and well-written. I'm just not sure how much of it I can believe.
Glaringly inaccurate and anti-Christian/anti-American. In the Epilogue the author describes the earthquake on January 13, 2010. The day after the horrific event occurred. In the midst of the book she displays a photograph of Sans Souci Palace which she titles "Citadelle Leferriere." This would be an astounding mountaintop castle and certainly would deserve a photograph. At one point she speaks briefly of Tortuga. She inaccurately describes it as the former hideout of British pirates and their wives. My readings reveal that it was the French who dwelt here, largely involved in same sex unions.
In Chapter 2 she displays her animosity of the United States in describing the American occupation of Haiti as opportunistic, predatory and cruel. As a footnote she does concede that the Americans built a thousand miles of roads, automated telephone exchanges, 147 medical clinics and 15 hospitals and the Haitian currency was stabilized. The government was steamlined, corruption was curtailed, and debt was repaid. The fact that methods were frequently culturally insensitive and that the Marines were doubtless prejudiced is certain. Having grown up in Canada as an American I cringe at the attitude of the author toward the US. Her attitude reveals her leftist ideology. She belies her countries dependence on the US for economy, culture and military protection. Sour grapes.The author later labels protestant churches as "cults." I think those who might spend their money on this book deserve to know her agnostic, vitriolic bent.
In summary, this book has it's moments. The description of the Duvalier years was quite interesting and well-written. I'm just not sure how much of it I can believe.
December 2, 2020
somewhat sensationalist but I learned a lot about 20th c Haiti
September 9, 2013
I started this book before my trip to Haiti and continued it during and after the trip to finish it. I am amazed by the struggles the country and its people have endured. For those traveling to Haiti, this book will scare you, but make you appreciate how far they have come even as you see how far they have to go.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews