In the Flicker of an Eyelid

by Jacques Stephen Alexis, Carrol F. Coates (Translator)

In his third novel, Jacques Stephen Alexis brings his characteristically vivid scenes, political consciousness, and powerful characters to the dramatic age-old question of whether a prostitute can leave "the life" to find her own identity and true love. La Niña Estrellita is pursuing her trade against the colorful backdrop of Holy Week 1948 in Port-au-Prince. Amid the rowdy street festivals and pious celebrations of the liturgical season, she notices a fellow Cuban exile, El Caucho, ship mechanic and union organizer, hanging around the Sensation Bar, and she begins to explore her attraction to him. In the Flicker of an Eyelid, first published in French as L'espace d'un cillement in 1959, appears here in English for the first time in a graceful, expert translation by the veteran critic Carrol F. Coates and the award-winning Haitian American writer Edwidge Danticat. Alexis offers a highly sympathetic look into the daily lives and tribulations of the Haitian people through the eyes of La Niña and the humane, searching worker El Caucho. The racism of the U.S. military, the selfish and profit-oriented machinations of Haitian politicians, the oppression of workers by the Cuban dictator Batista, the exploitation of women, and the particularly noteworthy links between Haiti and Cuba all form the figurative backdrop for a novel driven by unforgettable characters.

Genres: Fiction, Literature, France

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Haitian communist novelist, poet, and activist.

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a difficult book to review because it deals intimately with the subject of passionate love, between the prostitute La Nina Estrellita and the longshoreman El Caucho. About three quarters of the book is about the long slow dance by which the two get to know and finally accept each other.

The author, Jacques Stephen Alexis was murdered by the Ton Ton Macoute when he returned to Haiti in 1959, fresh from participating in the Cuban Revolution of Fidel Castro. In the Flicker of an Eyelid was to be the first volume of a tetralogy in which the relationship between El Caucho and Nina was to be analyzed in detail.

It took me a while to get into the rhythm of the book and its specific Caribbean context. But as the story progressed, I grew enchanted with it. The whole story takes places in Holy Week of 1948 and ends on Easter Sunday.

Too bad we never get a chance to follow the characters in the ensuing novels that were never written.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transporting and profound. A grand romance and at the same time a treatise on humanity and our alienation in capitalism. I read it first in the French original, and if you can read French it is worth finding a copy, but this is a _masterful_ translation by the novelist Edwidge Danticat. Here's an unusual thing: I have given this novel to friends who feel (as I often do) that their ability to read and concentrate has been shattered by social media and the internet generally, and it has contributed hugely to everyone's self-cure as well as to understanding the causes.

[Kelsey Lancraft · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an excellent example of Caribbean literature, written by the Haitian novelist, Jacques Stephen Alexis. It takes place in Haiti, telling the doomed love story of La Nina, a prostitute weary of the world, and El Caucho, an "everyman" worker. They almost reluctantly fall in love, fall head over heels for each other, as each is unsure of how to react to this new feeling. What was most impressive about this book was the intense imagery. Each chapter is titled after the five senses, including the ambiguous "sixth sense." My favorite chapters were the ones when the lovers meet for the first time, "Sight" and "Smell." In these chapters, the imagery is amazingly portrayed, as the two never touch nor speak, something one might expect when love is involved. Instead they are only attracted to each other by some magnetism, as Alexis describes amazingly in his book. The lovers only see each other plainly and recognize familiar smells that lead them to find love. It was such a distinctive way of having characters lust for each other, using only the senses available for each chapter. I would read this book again and again, just to experience falling in love the way Alexis portrays it.

[Tania Doonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensuality, marxism, and revolutionary discourse never got so sexy till this book. Although its heteronormativity and sexist ideologies are apparent, i do still think its a beautiful book worth reading, analyzing, etc.

[Kym · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read. Focus is on the female character who is a prostitute.

[Lisa Huang · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that I did not enjoy at first but grew to begrudgingly love. It really explores the complications of how difficult it can be to allow one's self to open up their heart again.

[carleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

i’m sure this is good i just didn’t like it

[JM Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The intrigue takes place in a seaside Port-au-Prince brothel. Vignettes saisissantes d'Haiti telle qu'elle etait au milieu du 20e siecle.

[Alysyn Reinhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jacques Stéphen Alexis was certainly an excellent writer. His prose is as thorough as it is consistent. In his third novel he tells the love at first sight (sort of) story of La Nina & El Caucho. The majority of the novel shows La Nina's struggles to reconcile her past memories, which are starting to come back, with her future as a prostitute. El Caucho's character becomes more developed as well as his past is revealed. Full review available on www.reinreads.wordpress.com

[Horvallis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une passion au temps de la Passion, où la vie et les mystères de l'amour tels qu'appréhendés par les six sens dans une Haïti bouillonnante de vie et de misère.
La poésie y absout le trivial et l'esprit y enrobe la chair. Là où règne un humanisme lumineux et transcendant, par delà le bien et le mal, les personnages prennent vie sous la plume incandescente et éblouissante de Jacques Stephen Alexis.
Le réalisme merveilleux dans toute sa splendeur baroque.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has been a long slog, although the second half was more accessible than the first. It came together at the end. Interesting to compare La Nina Estrellita to Haiti or the Caribbean itself. I am looking forward to hearing what my book club thought of it. They are all Latin Americanists, so they should have some good insights.

[melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit slow, but the imagery is just beautiful.