Appearing as a guest on the morning program Panel Magik on Radio Magik 9 on Thursday, July 23, writer Dany Laferrière devoted part of his remarks to the place of Haitian literature in the world and to what, in his view, it still lacks: literary criticism worthy of its authors.

Taking up a phrase by Martinican theorist Édouard Glissant, “Place is unavoidable,” Dany Laferrière first situated his own approach to writing: although he was born in Petit-Goâve, he says he addresses a universal readership. “I am going to write L’Odeur du café; I am not going to write it for Petit-Goâve. I am going to write for everyone,” he said.