Masters of the Dew

By Jacques Roumain

Book Overview

This Haitian novel tells of Manuel's struggle to keep his little community from starvation during a drought.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0435987453
• ISBN13: 9780435987459
• Release Date: January 1978
• Publisher: Heinemann
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 0.5" x 5.0"

Customer Reviews

THE CLASSIC AND EXCELLENT TRANSLATION OF Gouverneurs de la rosée ABOUT EMERGING CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS

From once a translation almost equals the original. It helps this translation of Jacques Roumain's historic novel Gouverneurs de la rosée: roman (Collection Les Grands récits antillais) was done by that great and gentle and powerful African American poet Langston Hughes (please see as well his own moving The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes) with the assistance of the great Mercer Cook, famous for among other works The Militant Black Writer in Africa and the United States. Together they bring a dynamic synthesis of literary beauty and socio-historical consciousness which brings alive to us the English reader this very personal tale of growing social action in colonialist Haiti, subsequent to the American occupation of nearly one hundred years ago ending only with our Great Depression. Such historical content would appear very dry, and yet the great novelist Jacques Roumain, himself Haitian, brings it engagingly and urgently and personally to life, all the more so in terms of his own personal history. This edition of the beautiful and effective English version, published by Heineman as part of its Caribbean Writers Series in 1978, bears what was then twenty years ago a new and comprehensive introduction by J. Michael Dash, of the French Department of the University of the West Indies at Mona. We gratefully read Dr. Dash's extensive recounting of the history as well as his commentary and placing the full import of this personal tale into its world-wide context. I would very much like to see a post-Duvalier, post-Aristide update of this introduction. I would most gloriously appreciate a reprinting with large type, as this extensive introduction and lengthy novel here is published with a rather reduced type in order to fit into the paperback format, and old folk like myself soon grow weary of the strain, as much as I love this story and its excellent introduction and its uniquely wonderful and accurate and faithful translation. AS we grow by the millions into deepest poverty within our own land and world, we have much to learn from this novel. As water rights becomes the next petroleum wars, we have our own survival to gain from a careful study of this text, its increase in conscientiazation and social organization and effective action, much as Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI compels us in his recent Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis: el Sacramento de la Caridad: una Exhortacion Apostolica Postsinodal to change those unjust economic structures which leave a few filthy rich and millions within the deepest poverty, a sin against God and humanity which cries out to Heaven. In this book and its echoes of US military occupation in Haiti, the francophone section of the island of Hispanola shared with the Dominican Republic and site of endless sugar cane plantations, we hear the drum beats of our present and endless imperialist, militarist, and colonialist occupations.

Poignant, Poetic, Masterpiece of Haitian Literature

"Masters of the Dew" is a beautifully written, poetic book about a little known country, Haiti. Had author Jacques Roumain lived longer, I'm sure he would have written more books and achieved greater fame. "Masters"' plot is simple: Manuel, a Haitian peasant, attempts to unite villagers into a "coumbite" that will end a famine. No, it's not the most riveting plot in the world, but what makes "Masters" worthwhile is its poetic writing, its vivid images, and its insight into the Caribbean nation of Haiti. Haiti's successful slave uprising is a cause of pride; today, it's impoverishment and environmental degradation are great causes of concern. Roumain, a communist, was proud of his nation, and concerned for her future. In this book, he protests against the imperialism that injured Haiti. As a communist, Roumain recommended a rejection of all religion, including Catholicism and Voodoo. Because he was oppossed to Voodoo, Roumain made sure to depict it accurately -- by way of saying, "This is what we need to get rid of" -- so "Masters" offers insights into Voodoo. Like many male would-be liberators who aren't fully aware of their own inner oppressor, Roumain, at least as this book shows, was not fully invested in the liberation of fifty percent of humanity -- humanity's female half. Women exist to serve men. His female lead, Annaise, delivers one of literature's most submissive speeches, culminating with, "I will be the servant of your desire." (116) Too, his communist, post-Christian world is dependent on Christianity; Manuel is overburdened with symbols communicating that he, the communist leader, is the new Christ, who will replace the old one. In any case, Roumain's deep love of his homeland, his commitment to Haiti, and his truly beautiful, poetic language are delightful, and make this book well worth reading.

A tragic tale

The translation is wonderful, maintaining a consistent tone as the book progresses. This is a truly tragic tail of the difficulty of being poor and living in traditional communities. It could be applied anywhere. The prodigal son returns, having found that the promised land really is the home that we grow up in. Only it is not the same as it was. The people who stayed behind have undermined the world that has provided for them in the search for life, and now there is no water with which to keep up their fields and their souls. Manuel obtains water, but at the cost of his life, and by taking it from yet another forest. This book was written in the 1940's. I have been to Haiti recently, and it is as if the small community described is every community. The devastation of the hillsides is everywhere. The trees are all gone. If you want to understand the current environmental and social situation in Haiti this book is a big step forward. Read it. Buy it for your friends.

A moving story of love and community....

This is a beautiful story centering around the return of Manuel, a "prodigal son," to his once-thriving home community--a community that is now in the midst of drought and hard times for all. As a result, the community has lost its sense of togetherness and a long-standing family feud mars any chance for reconciliation and a return of the coumbite.Upon Manuel's return to Haiti from Cuba, he begins a quest for water which he hopes will ultimately bring about an end to the hard times and feuding. In doing so, he also intends to reunite the community. Along the way, he falls in love and also makes an enemy. I'd hate to give anything more away so you'll have to read the rest yourself....This book is so well written, the language so beautiful, that you can see (and smell) the sights, people, animals, and terrain of the village community. It is a literary picture show/journey not to be missed.

A BOOK TO READ

READ IT WHEN I WAS YOUNG,FROM TIME TO TIME I GO BACK TO MY FRENCH COPY AND ENJOY THE WRITTING OF JACQUES ROUMAIN ONE MORE TIME.THE BOOK IS FULL OF WISDOM AND HOPE.YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH THE CHARACTERS I WANT TO BUY IT IN ENGLISH FOR MY CHILDREN TO ENJOY.