A review by bougainvillea
The Infamous Rosalie by Évelyne Trouillot

I am beyond glad that this book has been translated into English. I don't love the translation, though. I wonder if it's even possible to fully appreciate a translation if you've read and loved the original. How do you read a translation without "hearing" the original in your head? And I'm sure translating this was no easy task. The original is written in very complex, intricate language. I imagine the translator was trying to be as faithful as possible to the original, but at times, it felt like it made the English text heavier than it needed to be, and confusing. Still, it's by no means a bad translation. The power of the story is not lost, even upon rereading.

Love the last paragraph of the author's afterword:

I wasn't intending to write a historical novel. May I be forgiven, then, for the few discrepencies and creative liberties I've taken. I seek only to acknowledge my characters' humanity. Yet I must refuse any responsibility for the torture and punishment described in the text. They are all unfortunately true, born of the cruel and perfidious imagination of those who proclaimed themselves to be civilized.