Acknowledgements

Mesi Anpil, Mucho Gracias, Thank You Very Much ...

This book is a work of fiction based on historical events. Many dates have been changed, some events altered for narrative flow. Most of the inaccuracies or other place and time inconsistencies can be explained in that fashion. As to any others, please forgive the reach of my artistic license.

I am extremely grateful to the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund for the great honor, and support of its writer's award, which allowed me the time to write. The Barbara Deming Memorial Fund and The Barnard College Alumnae Association for the travel grants that got my research started. To Ledig House International Writer's Colony for a month's shelter. To Julia Alvarez, so generous with time and directions, to Lionel Legros (and SELA) for source suggestions and documents, to Jonathan Demme for the gift of many out-of-print books and papers. And to Archibald Lawless for the ongoing loan of an amazing office and a precious heart, I will always be grateful.

My most heartfelt thanks to Ambassador Bernardo Vega, Madame Jeanne Alexandre, Nicole Aragi, Myriam Augustin, Patricia Benoit, David Berry, Joanne Cams, Angie Cruz, Francis Cruz, Jacqueline Celestin-Fils-Aime, the late Jean Desquiron, Junot Diaz, Pierre Domond, Lionel Eliel, Jean Paul Fils-Aime, Melanie Fleishman, Laura Hruska, Juris Jurjevics, Michele Marcehn, Caroline Marshall, Sheila Murphy, Kareen Obydol, pigeon voyageur, and Dr. Michel-Rolph Trouillot.

To my manman, my muse, who taught me all about pesi and other mysteries. Yes, I do always remember that these stories-and all the others-are yours to tell and not mine. To Jacques Stephen Alexis, for Compere General Soleil. One. Always.

The following works were also helpful in my research: Suzy Castor's he Massacre de 1937 et les Relations Haitiano-Dommicaines, he Massacre de 1937 et les Relations Haitiano-Dommicaines, Bernard Diederich's Bernard Diederich's Trujillo, the Death of the Dictator, Trujillo, the Death of the Dictator, Rita Dove's wonderful poem, "Parsley," Rita Dove's wonderful poem, "Parsley," Blood in the Streets Blood in the Streets by Albert C. Hicks, His Excellency Bernardo Vega's by Albert C. Hicks, His Excellency Bernardo Vega's Trujillo y Haiti, Trujillo y Haiti, as well as the pamphlet "Beyond the Bateyes: Haitian Immigrants in the Dominican Republic," written by Patrick Gavigan and published by the National Coalition of Haitian Rights. President Stenio Vincent's letter, which appears on the endpapers, was found among the papers of Sumner Welles in the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library by Ambassador Bernardo Vega. The words of Rafael Trujillo's speeches were quoted and paraphrased from as well as the pamphlet "Beyond the Bateyes: Haitian Immigrants in the Dominican Republic," written by Patrick Gavigan and published by the National Coalition of Haitian Rights. President Stenio Vincent's letter, which appears on the endpapers, was found among the papers of Sumner Welles in the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library by Ambassador Bernardo Vega. The words of Rafael Trujillo's speeches were quoted and paraphrased from Chapter 21 Chapter 21 of the book of the book President Truijllo, His Work and the Dominican Republic, President Truijllo, His Work and the Dominican Republic, written by Lawrence De Besault and published in Santiago in the Dominican Republic by Editorial El Diario in 1941. written by Lawrence De Besault and published in Santiago in the Dominican Republic by Editorial El Diario in 1941.

And the very last words, last on the page but always first in my memory, must be offered to those who died in the massacre of 1937, to those who survived to testify, and to the constant struggle of those who still toil in the cane fields.

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Breath, Eyes, Memory

Krik? Krak!