Haitian Author Thélyson Orélien Responds to Controversy Over Novel 'C'était ça ou mourir'
The writer breaks his silence amid accusations about his novel, according to Le Nouvelliste.
Haitian author Thélyson Orélien has publicly responded to the controversy surrounding his novel "C'était ça ou mourir," according to Le Nouvelliste. In a statement, Orélien said that since September 21, "many things have been said" about him, with some critics attributing his novel to "non-human intelligence" — an apparent reference to artificial intelligence — while others, he said, revisited older texts to target him personally. "A writer speaks through his writings, and his writings speak for him," Orélien wrote, adding that his silence had allowed others to tell his story in his place. According to Le Nouvelliste, Orélien has denied using AI to write the book but has acknowledged instances of plagiarism. The outlet also reported that 1,400 copies of "C'était ça ou mourir" have been sold, according to publisher C3 Éditions, and that the novel was scheduled to be discussed at the Direction Nationale du Livre (DNL). Full details of the author's statement were available only to registered readers of Le Nouvelliste. The controversy has drawn attention within Haiti's literary community. This report is based on a single source and will be updated as further information emerges.