Esclavage et engagisme à Maurice dans Les Rochers de Poudre ­d’Or de Nathacha Appanah Construire une ­communauté avec et ­contre ce passé

In the historical novel Les Rochers de Poudre d’Or, devoted to the history of engagisme in Mauritius, Nathacha Appanah evokes the encounter between a runaway engagé and freed slaves. The history of engagisme thus meets that of slavery. Without seeking to resolve the mutual incomprehension of these two communities artificially, the novel participates in a work and questioning of memory which is essential for contemporary Mauritian society and the emergence of a national community.