3.0

Average Course Rating

The Caribbean occupies a central place in the history of the modern world, yet it is frequently portrayed as peripheral. Conventional narratives of its past are framed through the perspective of European empires, depicting the region as a sequence of colonial episodes that illustrate Europe’s expansion. This course explores the history of the French-speaking Caribbean through nineteenth- and twentieth-century literature, examining how these works challenge colonial narratives, give voice to silenced perspectives, and reimagine the past. Readings include works by Émeric Bergeaud, Marie Vieux-Chauvet, Jacques Stephen Alexis, Edwidge Danticat, Aimé Césaire, Édouard Glissant, and Patrick Chamoiseau, paired with critical scholarship. The course will be conducted in English, with all texts available in English or English translation.