Five decades ago, award-winning author Herbert Gold traveled to Haiti on a Caribbean version of the Fulbright Scholarship. The journey proved to be a turning point in his life. Fifty years later, his attachment to the tiny Caribbean nation-his second home-remains as passionate and powerful as ever. Now, in Best Nightmare on Earth, he explores the secret life of this vibrant, volatile, violent land. "Beautiful...bizarre...dangerous...exotic, a Garden of Eden fallen into despair, a tiny nation of unimaginable misery and unpredictable grace, an island where life is a kind of literature, a world of "unlimited impossibility." This is Herbert Gold''s Haiti, a country of extraordinary paradox and remarkable extremes-of gingerbread dream houses and wretched slums, of brutal repression and explosive creative energy. Where else, he asks, can you run into evil spirits on the back roads, or find the goddess of fertility and orgasm represented by a photo of a tap-dancing Shirley Temple? Where else is there such generosity amid such corruption, such humor in the midst of such desperation?In his many Haitian travels, Gold has dined with Graham Greene and chatted with the hated Duvalier oppressors. He has traded stories with CIA saboteurs, former Nazis, rum-soaked diplomats, and voodoo priests. He has taken in the cockfights and hunted for pirate treasure. He has nearly died of malaria; he has faced machete-wielding gangs of Ton-Ton Macoutes. He followed the traffic in Haitian blood to American hospitals and watched the AIDS epidemic take its toll. He listened to the steady beat of drums rolling down mist-shrouded mountains, and shared in the flirting, drinking, and laughter of the streets. He has captured the essence of this land where tragedy is the music the people dance to. Herbert Gold reflects on the country''s history and politics, culture and folklore, but sees much more. He sees Haiti through the eyes of a lover: impassioned, jealous, probing, ever alert, and alive. This book will be of interest to travelers to, and people interested in the problems of, Haiti and the Caribbean; and collectors of Haitian art.
Industry Reviews
"Herbert Gold's "Haiti: Best Nightmare on Earth" is a work of a novelist, yet provides some important cultural information about the era of the Duvalier regime terrorizing Haiti with their Tonton Macoutes - a despised militia of street gangs. Gold's journey in Haiti was a defining moment in his existence. He witnessed firsthand how Haiti's economy was shaken by AIDS and observed life moving from bad to worse under both the Duvalier regimes... ...Even though Gold makes no assertion of objectivity, this amazing account of a half century in Haiti captures outrageous ironies of the enchanted but tormented nation. It is ultimately an astounding account that I would recommend to anyone whose heart has been captured by the people and culture of Haiti" "--Marc E. Prou, University of Massachusetts, Boston" -In the course of an impressive career as a writer, Herbert Gold has demonstrated many gifts, among them his talent for making high drama of ordinary events, ordinary people.-
--Chicago Tribune Book World
-Gold... has a sharp eye for detail.-
--The Washington Times Magazine
-Not just a good book, but a great one.-
--London Daily Mail
-Herbert GoldAgives his stories a wry, bright air of wonderAhe is a born storyteller.-
--New York Times
-One of the most gifted writers in America.-
--Detroit News
-Herbert Gold's Haiti: Best Nightmare on Earth is a work of a novelist, yet provides some important cultural information about the era of the Duvalier regime terrorizing Haiti with their Tonton Macoutes - a despised militia of street gangs. Gold's journey in Haiti was a defining moment in his existence. He witnessed firsthand how Haiti's economy was shaken by AIDS and observed life moving from bad to worse under both the Duvalier regimes...Even though Gold makes no assertion of objectivity, this amazing account of a half century in Haiti captures outrageous ironies of the enchanted but tormented nation. It is ultimately an astounding account that I would recommend to anyone whose heart has been captured by the people and culture of Haiti-
--Marc E. Prou, University of Massachusetts, Boston "In the course of an impressive career as a writer, Herbert Gold has demonstrated many gifts, among them his talent for making high drama of ordinary events, ordinary people."
--Chicago Tribune Book World
"Gold... has a sharp eye for detail."
--The Washington Times Magazine
"Not just a good book, but a great one."
--London Daily Mail
"Herbert GoldAgives his stories a wry, bright air of wonderAhe is a born storyteller."
--New York Times
"One of the most gifted writers in America."
--Detroit News
"Herbert Gold's Haiti: Best Nightmare on Earth is a work of a novelist, yet provides some important cultural information about the era of the Duvalier regime terrorizing Haiti with their Tonton Macoutes - a despised militia of street gangs. Gold's journey in Haiti was a defining moment in his existence. He witnessed firsthand how Haiti's economy was shaken by AIDS and observed life moving from bad to worse under both the Duvalier regimes...Even though Gold makes no assertion of objectivity, this amazing account of a half century in Haiti captures outrageous ironies of the enchanted but tormented nation. It is ultimately an astounding account that I would recommend to anyone whose heart has been captured by the people and culture of Haiti"
--Marc E. Prou, University of Massachusetts, Boston "In the course of an impressive career as a writer, Herbert Gold has demonstrated many gifts, among them his talent for making high drama of ordinary events, ordinary people."
--Chicago Tribune Book World
"Gold... has a sharp eye for detail."
--The Washington Times Magazine
"Not just a good book, but a great one."
--London Daily Mail
"Herbert GoldAgives his stories a wry, bright air of wonderAhe is a born storyteller."
--New York Times
"One of the most gifted writers in America."
--Detroit News
"Herbert Gold's "Haiti: Best Nightmare on Earth" is a work of a novelist, yet provides some important cultural information about the era of the Duvalier regime terrorizing Haiti with their Tonton Macoutes - a despised militia of street gangs. Gold's journey in Haiti was a defining moment in his existence. He witnessed firsthand how Haiti's economy was shaken by AIDS and observed life moving from bad to worse under both the Duvalier regimes...Even though Gold makes no assertion of objectivity, this amazing account of a half century in Haiti captures outrageous ironies of the enchanted but tormented nation. It is ultimately an astounding account that I would recommend to anyone whose heart has been captured by the people and culture of Haiti"
"--"Marc E. Prou, University of Massachusetts, Boston
