Lavil: Life, Love, and Death in Port-au-Prince
Moving stories of life in a country enduring an ongoing crisis

Seven years after the deadliest earthquake in the history of the Western Hemisphere struck Haiti, the island nation remains in crisis, all but ignored by the international community. At the center of this crisis is Lavil—“The City” in Kreyol, as Port-au-Prince is known to Haitians—the cultural, political, and economic capital of Haiti and home to over 2.5 million resilient souls.

This immersive and engrossing oral history collection gives voice to the continuing struggle of Haitian people to live, love and prosper while trying to rebuild their city and country after disasters both natural and man-made.

Among the narrators:

Juslene, who moved to Port-au-Prince as a child for educational opportunities but was instead forced to work as a restavek—an unpaid servant—and who maintains unwavering hope despite the loss of her family when the city was destroyed.

Johnny and Denis, a teacher and his younger brother, who spent years hustling for work and looking out for each other in one of the city’s sprawling post-earthquake tent camps.

Lamothe, a wry and well-read expert on Haiti’s clean water crisis, who is one of the many Port-au-Prince citizens dedicated to rebuilding his city and nation.

1126606413
Lavil: Life, Love, and Death in Port-au-Prince
Moving stories of life in a country enduring an ongoing crisis

Seven years after the deadliest earthquake in the history of the Western Hemisphere struck Haiti, the island nation remains in crisis, all but ignored by the international community. At the center of this crisis is Lavil—“The City” in Kreyol, as Port-au-Prince is known to Haitians—the cultural, political, and economic capital of Haiti and home to over 2.5 million resilient souls.

This immersive and engrossing oral history collection gives voice to the continuing struggle of Haitian people to live, love and prosper while trying to rebuild their city and country after disasters both natural and man-made.

Among the narrators:

Juslene, who moved to Port-au-Prince as a child for educational opportunities but was instead forced to work as a restavek—an unpaid servant—and who maintains unwavering hope despite the loss of her family when the city was destroyed.

Johnny and Denis, a teacher and his younger brother, who spent years hustling for work and looking out for each other in one of the city’s sprawling post-earthquake tent camps.

Lamothe, a wry and well-read expert on Haiti’s clean water crisis, who is one of the many Port-au-Prince citizens dedicated to rebuilding his city and nation.

24.95 In Stock
Lavil: Life, Love, and Death in Port-au-Prince

Lavil: Life, Love, and Death in Port-au-Prince

Lavil: Life, Love, and Death in Port-au-Prince

Lavil: Life, Love, and Death in Port-au-Prince

Paperback

$24.95 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    In stock. Ships in 3-7 days. Typically arrives in 3 weeks.
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

Moving stories of life in a country enduring an ongoing crisis

Seven years after the deadliest earthquake in the history of the Western Hemisphere struck Haiti, the island nation remains in crisis, all but ignored by the international community. At the center of this crisis is Lavil—“The City” in Kreyol, as Port-au-Prince is known to Haitians—the cultural, political, and economic capital of Haiti and home to over 2.5 million resilient souls.

This immersive and engrossing oral history collection gives voice to the continuing struggle of Haitian people to live, love and prosper while trying to rebuild their city and country after disasters both natural and man-made.

Among the narrators:

Juslene, who moved to Port-au-Prince as a child for educational opportunities but was instead forced to work as a restavek—an unpaid servant—and who maintains unwavering hope despite the loss of her family when the city was destroyed.

Johnny and Denis, a teacher and his younger brother, who spent years hustling for work and looking out for each other in one of the city’s sprawling post-earthquake tent camps.

Lamothe, a wry and well-read expert on Haiti’s clean water crisis, who is one of the many Port-au-Prince citizens dedicated to rebuilding his city and nation.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781784786823
Publisher: Verso Books
Publication date: 05/23/2017
Pages: 336
Product dimensions: 5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Peter Orner edited Voice of Witness titles Underground America and co-edited Hope Deferred, and is the author of four books of fiction, including the novels The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo and Love and Shame and Love. His most recent book, Last Car Over the Sagamore Bridge, was a New York Times Editor’s Choice and named a Favorite Book of 2013 by the Wall Street Journal.

Dr. Evan Lyon has worked in Haiti since 1996 and is currently the Chief Integrated Health Officer at Heartland Health Outreach in Chicago. Through his work with Partners in Health, Lyon has helped community-based responses to address HIV, tuberculosis and broader public health concerns throughout Haiti. He has also frequently collaborated with Paul Farmer on articles related to social medicine and human rights.

Table of Contents

Foreword Edwidge Danticat 11

Introduction Peter Orner Evan Lyon 15

Executive Editor's Note Mimi Lok 27

Maps 29

Marielene Lene 33

Edner Brice 39

Frantz Santil 45

Juslene Marie Innocent 61

Johnny Destanville and Denis Clermont 65

Lamothe Lormier 83

Alina 97

Bazile Bermante 103

Evans Désir 111

Mina and Eve 115

Adrienne Phatal 121

Tania Jeudy 133

George Valentin Valeris 141

Fran 147

Benita Manda 151

Maritza 159

Louis Elias Ezaus 161

Jocelyn 165

Charlot Jeudy 167

Johnny 175

Jean Carrasco 179

Jane Wynne 181

Gina and Lians 189

Denise Dorvil 197

Bonhomme Peterson 209

Christopher Deragon 215

Josh, Junior 219

Djenane Saint-Juste 223

Patrice Florvilus 237

Taylor Mercita 251

Nadege Pierre 253

Pierre Yves Jovin 257

Snake 263

Jean Pierre Marseille 269

Appendices

Introduction to the Appendices 289

I Haitian Timeline 293

II Glossary 309

III Health and Justice Alter the Earthquake 317

IV Port-Au-Prince Infrastructure, Planning, and the Earthquake 327

V Suggested Reading 331

Acknowledgments 333

Editor Biographies 335

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews