海角大神

A star player charts his life on and off the pitch

When Haitian soccer 鈥� aka football 鈥� star Gil Chevalier scored the winning point in the 1950 World Cup, putting the underdog United States team over the top, it was the goal cheered 鈥檙ound the world. But now, as he stands in the blistering sun, staring at a firing squad ordered by Haitian President Fran莽ois 鈥淧apa Doc鈥� Duvalier, Gil begs God鈥檚 mercy. As the squad leader shouts, 鈥淩eady! Aim!鈥� Gil looks back over his life and wonders how he had fallen so far.

鈥淒eath of the Soccer God,鈥� by Haitian-born writer Dimitry Elias L茅ger, unfurls with the energy of one of Gil鈥檚 beloved football matches. (The book鈥檚 fictional protagonist is loosely based on聽real-life Haitian legend Joe Gaetjens, who scored a match-winning goal for the U.S. against England in the 1950 World Cup.)聽

The book jumps from Haiti to New York to Brazil, following Gil鈥檚 journey from privileged son to world-acclaimed football star to condemned prisoner. But while sport is at the heart of this story, the novel deals with much more. L茅ger explores societal issues such as racism and class expectations, along with world politics.

Growing up in Haiti, Gil is hailed for his exceptional talent, but his father considers it beneath his standing as the son of an affluent family and directs him to stop playing. He also tells Gil that, for financial reasons, he must marry the daughter of a wealthy Nazi who had escaped to Haiti after World War II. Gil is expected to attend business school in New York City before returning to his homeland to join the family鈥檚 business empire. Crushed, Gil follows his father鈥檚 orders.

In New York, however, Gil immerses himself in the arts,聽especially in Harlem with its jazz scene. Gil is fascinated by the city鈥檚 many ethnicities, evident even on the football team. 鈥淭he American team鈥檚 multicultural diversity, and America鈥檚 itself since Louis Armstrong was among the most famous Americans in the world in 1950, made it a much more attractive imperial overlord back then,鈥� Gil muses later.聽

In the midst of that diversity, he felt liberated.

While playing a scrimmage match in Central Park, Gil is spotted by U.S. team officials and recruited to play against England, which everyone expects to wipe the floor with the Americans. But instead, Gil brings the U.S. to victory, a success so much more than a football championship. It becomes his personal validation. 鈥淚 gave my best to the world, and the world appreciated it.鈥� He continues, 鈥淚 feel so free right now. Free of my father. Free of every expectation anyone ever had of me.鈥�

鈥淒eath of the Soccer God鈥� opens in the late 1940s, and illustrates the era鈥檚 changing world dynamics. For America to be a contender in the World Cup would have been unheard of at that time, except for the fact that European nations had trouble fielding elite teams after the destruction of war. The Americans seize the opportunity, determined to recruit Gil for their team 鈥� despite the fact that he is not a U.S. citizen.

A recruiter tells Gil, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a new world, 1950. We shocked the world by dropping those nuclear bombs on Japan. The Russians thought they had us beat in the nuclear arms race! We want to keep surprising the world. We鈥檙e special that way.鈥澛�

L茅ger transforms what might at first glance appear to be a sports story into a social commentary on the mid-20th century. He offers readers the opportunity to learn about Haiti, its culture, and its people beyond decades of dismal headlines.聽

L茅ger also resolves Gil鈥檚 situation in an unexpected but satisfying manner.