Aimé Césaire (1913-2008) was a world-renowned poet, essayist and dramatist, whose best known works include Notebook of a Return to My Native Land, The Tragedy of King Christophe and A Season in the Congo. He was the founding editor of Tropiques, which was instrumental in establishing the use of surrealism as a political weapon. He co-formulated the concept of "negritude," which urges Black Africans to reject assimilation and cultivate consciousness of their racial qualities and heritage. Césaire held a number of government positions in his native Martinique, including that of mayor of Fort-de-France.

Richard Miller (1931-2010) translated many books, both nonfiction and fiction, including works by Roland Barthes and Albert Camus, as well as poetry, articles, and a number of plays.