23876: Hermantin( announcement) Roger Savain's new book (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>


Haiti Through Roger E. Savain’s Lenses

Language Experience, Inc. announces the publication of Libres élans & Propos
d’un temps vécu. This chronicle by Roger E. Savain, spans a half century of
contemporary Haitian events. In vivid prose and some poetry illustrated by
the artist Louis Louissant, this collection of previously published opinion
pieces and essays provides a front seat view to the flow of issues and ideas
that were at the center of Haitian conversation.

It is also a very personal offering from a life and long career that has
seen the author in the role of diplomat, high government official,
university administrator, businessman, husband, father and grandfather.
Roger Savain, is of course well known for his significant work in Haitian
Kreyol, over the past 20 years and his long running column, Tèt Ansam, in
The Haitian Times. In a change of pace, this volume is rendered in French,
Haiti’s other official language.

In his review of this book, Maximilien Laroche, professor of literature at
Quebec’s Laval University, finds that having read Libres élans & Propos d’un
temps vécu, he likes it very much. “I am particularly impressed to see that
ideas expressed years ago are still appropriate today.”  Yet the wisdom to
pick them up and apply them, he laments, eludes us still

Libres élans & Propos d’un temps vécu takes us on a journey of reflection
and observation that have remained relevant through the decades over which
Roger Savain has composed his essays.  His love of the Haitian people and
unbending faith in the promise of a better Haiti is the running theme that
cannot fail to draw the reader into the work’s unique brand of optimism.

In the book’s Postscript, Dr. Fritz Fontus echoes that observation and notes
that: “Even a superficial reading of Savain’s work reveals a wise observer,
a man of vision who has collected an abundant harvest during his career.”
Judging the analysis consistently constructive, he finds          “every now
and then, a bright light on problems of our country that seem perennially
without solutions.” Finally he is confident in his assertion that that Mr.
Savain “ has considered questions that deserve the attention of Haitians
eager to see our country finally take the road of progress …”

Although eclectic in their scope and interests, the ideas presented revolve
around a basic set of concerns.  These include education, the economy, the
struggle for democracy and political plurality, and of course, language.
Here almost as salient as religion can be for other societies, the
importance of French and Kreyol in Haitian society is examined frankly and
the result is both incisive and provocative.  Libres élans & Propos d’un
temps vécu is an important document that captures the essence of the past 50
years and sets our sights on the future as the Republic of Haiti enters its
third century.

List Price $10.00
Available at selected bookstore and through the author.

Roger E. Savain can be reached at
Email:  resavain@konpitek.com
or rsavainjr@hotmail.com
Tel:  954-791-4964