Crossing the Mangrove

The third-person omniscient narrator introduces undocumented Haitian handyman Désinor. He enjoys the food at Sancher’s wake, as he often goes hungry. Still, he resents any charity he is given and wishes to join his friend Carlos and unnamed lover in America. Désinor began a sexual relationship with a man due to financial reasons; he could not afford to pay a female sex worker. There are always rumors of police raiding plantations, looking for men without documentation. When he runs away from one such raid, Désinor finds himself in Rivière au Sel. He meets fellow Haitian people, who recreated their homeland in Beaugendre. He prefers to remain alone and read letters from Carlos. Désinor eventually meets fellow Haitian man Xantippe, and the two smoke tobacco that Xantippe grows. In the present, he envies Sancher, as he no longer has to suffer life.

In first-person narration, Dodose recounts her father’s death, which ended the family’s comfortable life. She is required to marry a wealthy Black man, Emanuel, and lives the life of a martyr despite his importance in the community. He is interested in local politics, but secretly admires European culture in a period of growing nationalism. Dodose begins an affair with a Frenchman, and is happy for the first time since her marriage. However, her lover is recalled to France and her husband is exiled for his political activism. She becomes pregnant with Sonny, who suffers a brain hemorrhage shortly after birth. Emanuel says the hemorrhage is Dodose’s fault, and her guilt makes her wonder if he knows about her affair. One day, she encounters Sancher, who mentions getting medical help for Sonny. She lashes out at him, but with Sancher dead, she decides to help Sonny and begin her life anew.

The third-person omniscient narrator introduces Lucien, who initially believed his friend Sancher was a fellow revolutionary—but discovered he was disillusioned. In the past, he becomes a revolutionary and atheist while studying in Paris, to the disappointment of his wealthy, religious mother. When he hears from his friend Carmélien about Sancher the Cuban writer, he is determined to meet him. When they meet, Sancher reveals he is neither Cuban nor a writer—rather, he was born in Medellín, Columbia to a wealthy family. He speaks of his family curse—which began in Guadeloupe and kills male members in their early fifties—which Lucien dismisses as superstition. Still, the men become fast friends, and Lucien decides to write a book about Sancher’s life instead of a revolutionary struggle.

In first-person narration, Mira decides her son Quentin will travel the world to discover who Sancher was. She remembers how she changed for Sancher, finding pleasure in serving him. In the past, he admitted he never slept with a woman more than once, and wished a volcano would erupt and kill everyone. In the present, Mira vows to never return to the Gully, nor Aristide’s bed.

The third-person omniscient narrator recounts how historian Emile became Sancher’s friend. Sancher brings Emile to his house and offers him his pile of yellowing papers—the history of his family who escaped punishment by fleeing France for England. Emile decides to honor his friend’s death by pursuing an oral history project. He spots Xantippe at the wake and recounts being bullied for his dark skin. For financial reasons, he was unable to pursue studies abroad, instead staying in Guadeloupe and becoming a nurse. Still, Emile dreams of finding a place where he will not be judged by his skin.

In first-person narration, Xantippe describes himself as god-like, naming various tree and plant species. However, he also recounts being a “Maroon” (a Black person who escaped enslavement) and meeting his beloved wife Gracieuse. However, an uprising led to his crops being burned, as well as his house and family. The French police were told villagers were jealous of Xantippe’s success. This is described as Sancher’s crime, but Xantippe decides to leave him alone since the time for revenge is over.

As the sun rises, the third-person omniscient narrator states the villagers wander home—except for Sancher’s close friends, who prepare coffee. For some, Sancher’s death provides justice, and for others, the courage to follow their dreams. The villagers wonder if he was a supernatural creature or messenger who will return someday. Dinah believes he was a messenger, and starts her new journey by opening a Bible.