It was 25 years ago that the Latin America Bureau published Libète: A Haiti Anthology, which I co-edited with Michael Dash (me: 80%, he: 20%). 

It was a huge endeavour, involving months of research. In those days, the World Wide Web was still in its infancy and I spent many, many days at the British Library in London and the David Nicholls Memorial Library in Oxford. At the time, I was the coordinator of the Haiti Support Group, which, I am pleasantly surprised to see, is still going.

I was thrilled then (and still chuffed now) to receive this praise from Noam Chomsky: "This anthology provides fascinating insights into the terrible fate of one of the richest colonies in the world, and the remarkable human and cultural achievements of its people in the face of unimaginable calamity...their continuing struggle (is) an inspiration and a challenge to us all."

Haiti is in the news again and, as usual, it's bad news. Yet another UN-mandated peacekeeping force, this time 1,000 Kenyan police officers and others drawn from countries including Jamaica, the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda, is about to arrive in Haiti. No good will come of it because, as I wrote 25 years ago, there can be no peace and no justice with a structural system based on violence and exploitation.

I am pleased that this book is still available and delighted that it still has relevance after all this time. I see, just recently, Concern Worldwide included it in its 11 Books about Haiti to understand its current crisis: "If you’re looking for a single book about Haitian history that is both wide-ranging and in-depth, Libète manages to be both — and in just over 350 pages."

Here are a few other reviews from the time of publication:

"An essential companion for any visitor to Haiti, Libète: A Haiti Anthology covers Haitian history from the Arawaks to Aristide. This immensely readable collection of short extracts, many by Haitian authors, is breathtaking in its scope and detail." - Lonely Planet Guide to the Dominican Republic and Haiti; 

"For anyone seriously interested in Haiti, this is an indispensable work." - Bryant Freeman, director of the University of Kansas Institute of Haitian Studies; 

"Libète is an excellent introduction to Haiti, possibly the best in English." - Brian Concannon, executive director of the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti; 

"A remarkable collection. The selection is careful, judicious and enlightening; whoever reads this volume will end up with a sound and rich general knowledge of the country and its people.” - Sidney Mintz, Professor of Anthropology, John Hopkins University. 

"An incisive anthology which offers a challenging but well-paved introduction to the country…Edited skillfully and conscientiously." - Haiti Progrès newspaper. 

The book is available here (UK) and here (US) as well as through Amazon.