Aunt Resia and the Spirits and Other Stories

One of the greatest living Haitian writers, Yanick Lahens's short stories convey the authenticity of her people's tragic fight for survival within the scope of our shared human experience. In this first collection of her stories to be available in English, Lahens introduces us to men and women who are confronted with the overwhelming task of simply staying alive: One group of men struggles against the Duvalier dictatorship and another young man finds that life is no easier in the post-Duvalier world; a twelve-year-old girl finds herself swept up in a riot, and a beautiful girl reminisces about her happy childhood in the country in order to forget her current life as a prostitute. Compelling and unforgettable, these stories will find favor with many readers, especially those interested in Caribbean writers and women writers. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

In addition to her short fiction, Yanick Lahens has published two novels, Dans la maison du pere and La couleur de l’aube, as well as numerous essays on literature and politics. Betty Wilson teaches in the Department of Literatures in English at the University of the West Indies, Mona. Edwidge Danticat is the author of several acclaimed works of fiction, including Breath, Eyes, Memory. Marie-Agnes Sourieau is Professor of French at Fairfield University.