Creole Renegades: Rhetoric of Betrayal and Guilt in the Caribbean Diaspora

Bénédicte Boisseron's book Creole Renegades explores the works of exiled Caribbean authors who are viewed as sell-outs or traitors by their home islands but are celebrated in North America. Their writing is infused with cultural, sexual, or racial emancipation, but their deviance is not defiant. Boisseron argues that displacement and creative autonomy are often manifested in guilt and betrayal.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2022
Publisher: University Press of Florida

In her captivating book, Creole Renegades, Bénédicte Boisseron delves into the lives of exiled Caribbean authors who have achieved immense success in their adopted North American countries, yet face constant criticism from their home islands. These writers, including Edwidge Danticat, Jamaica Kincaid, V.S. Naipaul, Maryse Condé, and Dany Laferriére, refuse to be mere cultural ambassadors, often distancing themselves dramatically from the postcolonial archipelago. Their writing is characterized by a captivating sense of cultural, sexual, and racial emancipation, yet their defiance remains nuanced. Boisseron's insightful analysis underscores the often overlooked contentious relationship between modern diaspora authors and the Caribbean, ultimately arguing that displacement and creative autonomy often manifest in guilt and betrayal, central themes that recur throughout the work of these writers.

Introduction:
Creole Renegades explores the complex dynamics between exiled Caribbean authors and their home islands. These writers, who have achieved great success in North America, often face accusations of sell-outs, opportunists, or traitors from their fellow Caribbean citizens. Despite their artistic achievements, they are often viewed as betraying their cultural heritage.

Displacement and Creative Autonomy:
The book delves into the experiences of these authors as they navigate the challenges of displacement and seek creative autonomy. Boisseron argues that displacement and creative autonomy are often intertwined, leading to guilt and betrayal. These authors, who have left their home islands for various reasons, often feel a sense of guilt for abandoning their roots and a sense of betrayal for straying from traditional Caribbean values.

Cultural Emancipation:
Despite their distance from the Caribbean, these authors' writing is infused with a sense of cultural emancipation. They challenge the dominant narratives and stereotypes associated with the region, offering alternative perspectives and experiences. Their work explores themes of identity, race, gender, and sexuality, offering a nuanced and complex understanding of the Caribbean experience.

Controversial Relationships:
Boisseron highlights the contentious relationship between modern diaspora authors and the Caribbean. These authors often distance themselves from the postcolonial archipelago, seeking to forge their own identities and artistic paths. However, their deviation from traditional Caribbean values and practices can be seen as a betrayal by some Caribbean citizens.

Guilt and Betrayal:
The book explores the theme of guilt and betrayal as central to the lives of these authors. Despite their success and artistic achievements, they often feel a sense of guilt for leaving their home islands and a sense of betrayal for deviating from cultural norms. Their writing reflects this emotional turmoil, as they grapple with the complexities of displacement and the challenges of reconciling their cultural heritage with their artistic aspirations.

Conclusion:
Creole Renegades offers a thought-provoking exploration of the lives and works of exiled Caribbean authors. By examining the complex relationship between displacement, creative autonomy, cultural emancipation, and guilt and betrayal, the book sheds light on the challenges and complexities faced by these artists as they navigate the boundaries between their home cultures and their adopted ones.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813068794