Overview:
A evaluation of Dimitry Elias Léger’s “Dying of the Soccer God” examines how the novel transforms the story of a Haitian soccer legend Joe Édouard Gaetjens right into a broader reflection on Haiti, migration, race, politics and belonging.
BROOKLYN — Earlier than studying “Dying of the Soccer God” by Dimitry Elias Léger, I didn’t know the story of Joseph Édouard Gaetjens. Certain, I may need heard in passing concerning the Haitian soccer nice who represented america within the 1950 FIFA World Cup, scoring its one purpose in opposition to England in a historic upset. Nevertheless it didn’t stick.
Within the pages of Haitian lore, nonetheless, the story struck extra like a trivia tidbit in comparison with the fanfare surrounding Haiti’s 1974 staff and Emmanuel Sanon.
“Death of the Soccer God” rectifies that notion. In his fictional model of Gaetjens’ journey, Léger presents Gaetjens as Gilbert Chevalier. A hapless bourgeois child after we first meet him, Chevalier navigates household secrets and techniques, the load of obligation, old flame and geopolitical firestorm into maturity – along with his large soccer expertise as a relentless companion. Léger’s chops enable him to craft a really jazzy journey, cued up by his apparent love for the style and carried all through with unanticipated, pleasant actions.
“Dying of the Soccer God” is way from a macabre story, because the title and Gaetjens’ disappearance recommend. Like jazz, it’s deep, however seems like a lindy hop. It covers plenty of heavy socio-political floor, however balances it with dazzling match play-by-plays, prolonged dialogues and personalities in transformation.
Launched in Might, studying “Dying” simply earlier than the 2026 FIFA World Cup, then experiencing the match, has felt like wanting via a crystal ball into the previous. One whose Nineteen Fifties machinations mirrored the present-day intrigues we noticed play out in actual time.
Who will get to play?
A central theme is the position of diaspora gamers in worldwide soccer. Haiti’s roster was composed largely of gamers born or raised overseas, the youngsters of Haitian immigrants returning to characterize their ancestral homeland. Over the previous month, we witnessed simply how critically powerhouse white-led nations reminiscent of France, England and Spain depend on individuals whose Black immigrant household histories stretched throughout Africa and the Caribbean.
Chevalier’s story was the identical one raised throughout social media about truthful play — on the sector, throughout and after the matches. The debacle with the FIFA refs is only one of many examples to investigate the very idea of truthful play and fairness on the worldwide stage. With Haiti particularly, the web hardly has bandwidth to litigate the Scotland match, Coach Migné’s frekansité and the Grenadiers jersey controversy.
By far, probably the most galling was Trump tipping the scales to get a red card reversal for the U.S. I couldn’t assist however to consider the guarantees made to Léger’s hero as he trotted across the globe. His predicament dropped at thoughts numerous different athletes, groups and international locations whose potential is suppressed by the ego journeys of extra highly effective individuals and nationwide pursuits, with similarities that haven’t modified 75 years later.
A re-lived story with plenty of swings
Past soccer, Léger immerses readers in Haitian society, school life, pre-gentrified Harlem and being a stranger overseas. His deftness in inserting characters in Haiti and across the globe could also be acquainted to dyaspora adept at migrating and assimilating throughout areas.
Via Chevalier’s world — his mother and father, his spouse’s hidden previous and eyebrow-raising tastes, his nice love, his brother, his mom and the individuals surrounding them — we expertise the fluidity of sophistication in Haiti and the way standing shifts with wealth, circumstance and private values.
Unexpectedly, “Dying of the Soccer God” can be an homage to jazz. A nod to the components of American historical past that went into its creation and the greats that made the remainder of the world fall in love with it.
Léger additionally transports readers to Harlem, inserting them in a sliver of time simply earlier than many jazz greats attain legendary standing — very similar to our protagonist. Chevalier roams across the metropolis, conversing with artists and intellectuals whose brilliance coexists with hardship. He offers readers the sense that Lèger himself is sitting in dialog along with his heroes to deliver us much-needed historical past, context and encouragement in pursuing higher for ourselves.
Léger performs the identical trick with many massive names whose affect formed the a long time after 1950, together with the negritude movement and post-war European migration to the Caribbean.
No novel set in mid-Twentieth century Haiti can be full with out François “Papa Doc” Duvalier, and Léger does one thing surprising right here too. Fairly than merely portraying Duvalier because the larger-than-life dictator who has haunted generations, he strips away a number of the mythology from the “Little Physician” in hilarious, headshaking scenes.
Greater than a sport
Solely a few points stored this e-book from being flawless. In melding previous and current, sure idioms sounded extra like they got here from Léger’s personal coming-of-age years fairly than from a long time prior. Leaping at occasions from first-person to third-person narration in some passages additionally pulled me out of the story often.
Nonetheless, these didn’t overshadow what the novel accomplishes. It nonetheless clearly relays the numerous methods financial exploitation, social stratification, or political repression can stifle the potential of people and whole nations. “Dying” echoes the nonetheless persistent programs that deny alternative to some and cut back human lives to bargaining chips, turning future legends into tragic figures.
Notably, “Dying of the Soccer God” revives the story of Gaetjens for a brand new technology. I, for one, have realized to understand his story in a means I’ll retain.
For followers of truthful play, the novel additionally reminds us that no sport, irrespective of how lovely, is extra vital than a life lived. “Dying” portrays the humanity of every considered one of us dwelling via extraordinary occasions, with godlike greatness.