Rene Depestre

Who is Rene Depestre?

René Depestre was born in Jacmel (Haiti) in 1926. His first collection of poems Étincelles caused quite a stir in the literary world of Haiti. He founded with Baker, Alexis and Gerald Bloncourt, La Revue La Ruche whose political influence among young students participated in the overthrow of President Elie Lescot. He took refuge in Cuba in 1959, fleeing the dictatorial regime of Francois Duvalier. In Havana, he collaborated for some time with the Regime of the Cuban Revolution. But he left Cuba in 1978, following a disagreement with the regime of Fidel and went to France where he obtained a position at UNESCO. His works became successful when he won the Renaudot Prize for his novel Hadriana dans tous mes rêves and the Prix Apollinaire for his Anthologie personnelle. He became a French citizen and now lives in a small village in the Aude, in the deep France.