- Hardcover
- Used
Seller: Zagrecki Zoran, Kirtland, OH, U.S.A.Zagrecki Zoran
AbeBooks seller since November 8, 2025
Condition: Used - Near fine
US$ 35.00
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
First Edition. Fine hardcover in a Near Fine dust jacket. Binding is tight and square. Pages are crisp, clean, and unmarked. Dust jacket presents beautifully with only a tear that is barely noticeable but visible upon close inspection, as shown in the photographs. An attractive and well-preserved copy. Massacre River by René Philoctète is a powerful historical novel centered on the 1937 Parsley Massacre along the Haitian-Dominican border. Through the story of a Dominican man and his Haitian wife, Philoctète explores themes of love, identity, prejudice, and survival against a backdrop of political violence. Widely regarded as an important work of Caribbean literature, this first edition is a desirable addition to collections of world fiction and translated literature. Please review all photographs carefully as they are considered part of the description. The exact item pictured is the item you will receive. All books are securely packaged for shipment and handled with care.
Seller Inventory # ABE-1794358214084
- Title
- Massacre River
- Author
- Rene Philoctete
- Publisher
- New Directions
- Publication year
- 2005
- Condition
- Near fine
- Dust jacket
- Fair
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0811215857
- ISBN 13
- 9780811215855
- Item weight
- 344.73 grams
- Dimensions
- 5.4 inches width by 7.3 inches height by 1 inch depth
"Between Haiti and the Dominican Republic flows a river filled with ghosts," Edwige Danticat writes in her superb preface to Massacre River: "Over time the river has been the site of several massacres including the one which is the subject of this tour de force by René Philoctète."
In 1937 the power-mad racist Generalissimo Trujillo ordered the slaughter of thousands and thousands of Haitians and, as Philoctète puts it, death set up shop everywhere. At the heart of Massacre River is the loving marriage of the Dominican Pedro and the Haitian Adele in a little town on the Dominican border. On his way to work, Pedro worries that a massacre is in the making; an olive-drab truck packed with armed soldiers rumbles by. And then the church bells begin to ring, and there is the relentless voice on the radio everywhere, urging the slaughter of all the Haitians. Operation Cabezas Haitianas (Haitian Heads) is underway, the soldiers shout, "Perejil! [Parsley!] Perish! Punish!" Haitians try to pronounce "perejil" correctly, but fail, and weep. The town is in an uproar, Adele is ordered to say "perejil" but stammers. And Pedro runs home and searches for his beloved wife, searches and searches " The characters of this book not only inspired the love and outrage of an extraordinary writer like Philoctète," writes Edwige Danticat, "but continue to challenge the meaning of community and humanity in all of us.""Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Acclaimed Haitian poet and scholar René Philoctète was a founder of the group Haiti Litteraire and a co-founder of the Spiraliste literary movement. He was devoted to Haiti and the Kreyol language, and after only a few months in Canada in 1966 during the Duvalier repression, he returned home for good, deciding that he'd rather be murdered at home than live in exile. He was widely respected for his fearless rejection of all forces of oppression. Born during the American occupation, he died in 1995, with American soldiers once again in his homeland.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Zagrecki Zoran
Kirtland, OH, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since November 8, 2025
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | US$ 8.25 | US$ 23.00 |
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Welcome! We are a family-run shop built on a lifelong appreciation for global arts, travel, and cultural heritage. Our storefront features a massive, premium collection where nearly every volume has been meticulously preserved in great condition, with most coming equipped with protective archival covers. We are happy to provide any additional information or specific photos you require prior to purchase. Because our primary goal is to clear our extensive inventory, all of our books are already priced at rates to move quickly. Due to this pricing, our inventory moves fast, so be sure to secure your copies before they are gone. While our listed prices reflect their best value, we welcome serious inquiries or reasonable bundle offers on select items. We take pride in transparent grading and specialize in prompt shipping across the USA. Every order is wrapped securely in heavy-duty bubble wrap and shipped fast in a secure box to guarantee safe arrival. Thank you for exploring our collection and finding your next great read at an unbeatable value!…
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Zagrecki Zoran
OH, U.S.A.
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