Since Jacques Roumain inaugurated the peasant novel in Haitian literature with his 1931 work, La Montagne ensorcelée, this genre has achieved monumental success within the Haitian literary community. Among the authors who have explored the condition of peasants is Édris Saint-Amand, born on March 26, 1918, in Gonaïves and died on February 9, 2004, in Port-au-Prince. An essayist, novelist, diplomat, literary critic, and professor, Saint-Amand is part of the tradition of writers who have adeptly depicted the contradictions that plague Haitian society, particularly in the rural areas, to use Gérard Barthelemy's terms.

Saint-Amand’s contribution to Haitian literature is both significant and substantial. In 1952, he published his flagship novel, Bon Dieu rit, in Paris. This dense and controversial classic continues to captivate Haitian readers and immortalizes his lucid and generous thought. For its 30th edition, Livres en folie is honoring this man who has elevated Haitian art, and particularly literature, with his unique and original talent.