Stephen Alexis
Encyclopedia
Stephen Mesmin Alexis, was a Haiti
an novelist and diplomat. Born in Gonaïves
, Alexis served as Haiti's ambassador to the United Kingdom
and represented Haiti at the United Nations
.
He is best known for his novel, Le Négre Masqué (1933). He is also credited with writing the most complete account of Toussaint Louverture's life. The Black Liberator: The Life of Toussaint Louverture, was translated from French
by William Sterling and published in England
in 1949. The French version of the book was never published; it apparently disappeared while on its way to the publisher. Alexis managed to rewrite the manuscript while in exile, however it was also stolen just before he died in exile, in Caracas
.
His son, Jacques Stephen Alexis
, also became a noted novelist.
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
an novelist and diplomat. Born in Gonaïves
Gonaïves
Gonaïves is a city in northern Haiti, the capital of the Artibonite Department. It has a population of about 104,825 people . The city's name derives from the original Amerindian name of Gonaibo. It is also known as Haïti's "independence city"...
, Alexis served as Haiti's ambassador to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and represented Haiti at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
He is best known for his novel, Le Négre Masqué (1933). He is also credited with writing the most complete account of Toussaint Louverture's life. The Black Liberator: The Life of Toussaint Louverture, was translated from French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
by William Sterling and published in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1949. The French version of the book was never published; it apparently disappeared while on its way to the publisher. Alexis managed to rewrite the manuscript while in exile, however it was also stolen just before he died in exile, in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
.
His son, Jacques Stephen Alexis
Jacques Stephen Alexis
Jacques Stephen Alexis was a Haitian novelist. He is best known for his novels Compère Général Soleil , Les Arbres Musiciens , and L'Espace d'un Cillement , and for his collection of short stories, Romancero aux Etoiles .Alexis was born in Gonaïves, the son of novelist and diplomat Stephen Alexis...
, also became a noted novelist.