Mamzelle libellule

by Raphaël Confiant

Mamzelle Libellule est un roman passionné, porté par le souffle des Antilles. C'est l'histoire d'une jeune fille des campagnes que sa mère envoie chez une tante, à Fort-de-France, pour lui donner la chance d'une vie moins rude. Autour de la capitale, se débat tout un peuple créole dans le courage, la misère et la joie. Ce tourbillon qui use les êtres ou les transporte, qui les jette contre la société blanche dans de sanglantes émeutes, ce tourbillon menacera de briser Adelise, la libellule amoureuse de la vie, proie des hommes et des puissants. Le roman d'une jeune femme indocile et courageuse par l'un des maîtres de la Créolité.
Traduit du créole par l'auteur.

Genres: Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 1994

Reviews

[Heather Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an interesting little story of a place I know very little about. I imagine that there were some things lost in translation as the storyline seemed a little jumpy.

[Candy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to read this but couldn’t push myself to read beyond 40 pages.... it was quite boring such a big disappointment.

[Ashura Hirose · Rating 5 out of 5]

really enjoyed this book. studied it as part of a French Caribbean Literature module at university.
beautifully written(/translated into French by the author) and representative of the Creole storytelling tradition. because of this, some may find the narrative disjointed and confusing, however this style only adds to the richness of the story and who it represents.

[Katandra Shanel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not for the faint of heart or those who are easily disturbed. The main character is a young girl who is resilient beyond measure. After being raped at a very young age she understands all too well that her body is not her own. She takes this knowledge with her and draws from it a strength that allows her to survive the harsh life that awaits in Morne Pichevin. There she discovers a trade that further forces her to tuck her heart deep away. Until she meets Homére. But love is not the cure-all to the hardships of life. You will find yourself drawn into the world that the Author sets before you. The blood. The hate. The rape. The riot. The betrayal. Wonderful story.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story from the standpoint of deconstructing the notion of the French Caribbean as a paradise. For those caught in the wheel of crushing poverty, and that means many if not most of Martinique's inhabitants, it is anything but. A number of interesting cultural observations along the way in what is, for the most part, a relentlessly depressing story of a young girl's journey from the sexual abuse she suffers in the sugarcane plantations of the countryside to life as a prostitute in the island's main city. Some humorous scenes here and there, but overall, grim stuff.

[Tatiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

MARVELOUS book. Not for the timid- if prostitutes, violence, and perversion turns you off, this book may be a little much but the main character is soooooo compelling, she's beautiful but she doesn't care and she belongs to no one but herself, even if she forgets that for a while. Over look the streetwalker part and enjoy.

[Greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

The eyes of a dragonfly are beautiful, complex, interesting and unique to their species. Mamazelle Dragonfly lives up to her surname in this traumatic, seemingly true coming of age story. Growing up poor and uneducated in Martinique is difficult for all but especially harsh for a young girl without protection from sexual predators.