Lavil
Life, Love, and Death in Port-au-Prince
By Evan Lyon, Peter Orner | Publisher: Verso Books
About the book
Moving stories of life in a country enduring an ongoing crisis
Seven years after the deadliest earthquake in the history of the Western Hemisphere struck Haiti, the island nation remains in crisis, all but ignored by the international community. At the center of this crisis is Lavil—“The City” in Kreyol, as Port-au-Prince is known to Haitians—the cultural, political, and economic capital of Haiti and home to over 2.5 million resilient souls.
This immersive and engrossing oral history collection gives voice to the continuing struggle of Haitian people to live, love and prosper while trying to rebuild their city and country after disasters both natural and man-made.
Among the narrators:
Juslene, who moved to Port-au-Prince as a child for educational opportunities but was instead forced to work as a restavek—an unpaid servant—and who maintains unwavering hope despite the loss of her family when the city was destroyed.
Johnny and Denis, a teacher and his younger brother, who spent years hustling for work and looking out for each other in one of the city’s sprawling post-earthquake tent camps.
Lamothe, a wry and well-read expert on Haiti’s clean water crisis, who is one of the many Port-au-Prince citizens dedicated to rebuilding his city and nation.
Editions of Lavil
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781784786823
- AltFormat
- ISBN 9781786633774
- EBook
- ISBN 9781784786847
Read an Excerpt
Moving stories of life in a country enduring an ongoing crisis
Seven years after the deadliest earthquake in the history of the Western Hemisphere struck Haiti, the island nation remains in crisis, all but ignored by the international community. At the center of this crisis is Lavil—“The City” in Kreyol, as Port-au-Prince is known to Haitians—the cultural, political, and economic capital of Haiti and home to over 2.5 million resilient souls.
This immersive and engrossing oral history collection gives voice to the continuing struggle of Haitian people to live, love and prosper while trying to rebuild their city and country after disasters both natural and man-made.
Among the narrators:
Juslene, who moved to Port-au-Prince as a child for educational opportunities but was instead forced to work as a restavek—an unpaid servant—and who maintains unwavering hope despite the loss of her family when the city was destroyed.
Johnny and Denis, a teacher and his younger brother, who spent years hustling for work and looking out for each other in one of the city’s sprawling post-earthquake tent camps.
Lamothe, a wry and well-read expert on Haiti’s clean water crisis, who is one of the many Port-au-Prince citizens dedicated to rebuilding his city and nation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lavil about?
Moving stories of life in a country enduring an ongoing crisis
Seven years after the deadliest earthquake in the history of the Western Hemisphere struck Haiti, the island nation remains in crisis, all but ignored by the international community. At the center of this crisis is Lavil—“The City” in Kreyol, as Port-au-Prince is known to Haitians—the cultural, political, and economic capital of Haiti and home to over 2.5 million resilient souls.
This immersive and engrossing oral history collection gives voice to the continuing struggle of Haitian people to live, love and prosper while trying to rebuild their city and country after disasters both natural and man-made.
Among the narrators:
Juslene, who moved to Port-au-Prince as a child for educational opportunities but was instead forced to work as a restavek—an unpaid servant—and who maintains unwavering hope despite the loss of her family when the city was destroyed.
Johnny and Denis, a teacher and his younger brother, who spent years hustling for work and looking out for each other in one of the city’s sprawling post-earthquake tent camps.
Lamothe, a wry and well-read expert on Haiti’s clean water crisis, who is one of the many Port-au-Prince citizens dedicated to rebuilding his city and nation.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Lavil?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social and ethical issues > Social impact of disasters / accidents (natural or man-made)
Where can I read a sample of Lavil?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781784786823
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Lavil?
Evan Lyon, Peter Orner
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Lavil is available as paperback(ISBN 9781784786823) and altformat(ISBN 9781786633774) and ebook(ISBN 9781784786847)
Where can I buy Lavil online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Lavil from below