In the novel Texaco by Patrick Chamoiseau, the concept of the Noutéka is invented to describe Esternome’s ideal community. In Esternome’s words, Noutéka is “a magical kind of we . . . [loaded] with the meaning of one fate for many,” (Chamoiseau 122). The idea of Noutéka is highlighted in the segment of Marie-Sophie’s notebook […]
Category: Places
Schœlcher Library
The Schoelcher Library is a library in the city of Fort-de-France in Martinique, France that is named after abolitionist Victor Schoelcher. The library was opened in honor of Schoelcher because he donated a large portion of his personal library to Martinique. The collection consists of political documents, manuscripts, letters, and music compositions. This library is […]
Saint-Pierre
Introduction Saint-Pierre is a port city located on the island of Martinique in the West Indies. The city of Saint-Pierre was founded by French settlers in 1635 (“Saint-Pierre”). Its main export is sugar. As of 2004, the estimated population is 4,544. Saint-Pierre serves as an important port city on the island of Martinique. In the […]
Mount Pelée
OVERVIEW Mount Pelée is a stratovolcano located on the French island of Martinique in the Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc of the Caribbean. In the past 250 years, there have been an estimated four eruptions. The most recent eruption of this active volcano was in 1932. The terrain of the volcano consists of solidified lava and […]
Martinique
Introduction The Caribbean island of Martinique is well-known for its popular resort spots and tourist destinations. However, this French-owned territory in the Caribbean Sea held strong roots in the beginnings of globalization. Martinique served as one of the world’s top sugar exporters during the 19th century due to the abundance of fertile land for plantations. […]
Knowledge
Storytelling throughout generations and with others is a powerful method that keeps our ancestors, their stories, and their wisdom alive today. From drawing on cave walls to our current social media platforms, humans have always found importance in sharing knowledge with others. Humans have always found a strength in knowledge and a weakness in ignorance […]
French Overseas Departments
Introduction A French Overseas Department is a region of France that is not included within metropolitan France. However, these departments still have the same status as France’s mainland regions and departments. Martinique, the setting of the novel Texaco, by Patrick Chamoiseau, is a French overseas department. History of French Overseas Expansion Beginning in the early fifteenth and […]
Fort-de-France
Fort-de-France is the largest city and capital of Martinique. These two noteworthy features make Fort-de-France a pivotal location in the story of Texaco by Patrick Chamoiseau. The city inherited the position of being the largest and most influential city on the island due to the devastation of Saint-Pierre, and the characters of Texaco witnessed this […]
