FAMOUS CREOLES

JOSEPHINE DE BEAUHARNAIS
Jospehine de Beauharnais was born in 1763 in Martinique and spent a long time of her childhood there on a sugar cane plantage. She became famous as the first wife of Naopeol Bonaparte, and thus was the first Empress of the French. She did not bear Napoleon any children; as a result, he divorced her in 1810 to marry Marie Louise of Austria.

PATRICK CHAMOISEAU
The French author was born in Martinique in 1953 and is considered the most innovative author in the French-speaking scene. After he studied law in Paris he returned to Martinique inspired by Édouard Glissant to take a close interest in Creole culture. His novel Texaco was awarded the Prix Goncourt in 1992, and was chosen as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.