Autopsie d’un Guadeloupéen [Autopsy of a Guadeloupean, L’Harmattan, 2009] is Robert Verger’s first book. Described as an autobiographical novel, this book uses memoir and humor (or, as the author declares, self-derision) to shed light on the circumstances leading up to this year’s massive strikes in Guadeloupe. Race relations, socioeconomic balance, education, class awareness, and many more factors are explored to give another perspective of the Antillean psyche.

This book attempts to describe Guadeloupeans from another angle because “One thing is evident: the French from the metropolis only know the facade that the French from the islands want to show them.” The book cover claims that in this autobiographical work, “Nothing is hidden; everything is said without embarrassment or shame. It is sure that many will be annoyed by certain truths.”

Robert Verger was born in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. When he was 15 years old, he moved to Paris, where he still lives. He holds an M.A. in Arts and Letters, with a concentration in Cinema Studies.  

For purchasing information, see http://www.editions-harmattan.fr/index.asp?navig=catalogue&obj=livre&no=29083

For more on the author and excerpts from the book, see his blog at http://robertverger.blogspot.com/