Status
Available
Call number
Collections
Publication
Allen Lane (2020), Edition: 01, 464 pages
Description
"A biography of the Haitian revolutionary leader Toussaint Louverture."--
User reviews
LibraryThing member SChant
An engrossing exploration of the turmoil in Saint-Domingue - what was to become Haiti - in the 18th & early 19th century as black slaves struggled for freedom.
There were slave revolts and alliances with nearby Spanish Santo Domingo (a slave owning country), French republicans unsure whether to
Enter freed slave Toussaint Louverture who fought to free the slaves and against colonial oppression, always advocating equality between black, mixed-race and white inhabitants – to the extent of granting amnesties to white colonists in the face of opposition from his fellow republicans.
The book is a bit of a hagiography but can’t disguise the fact that he was a self-serving opportunist at many points. He hung back from the slave revolt at first, swapped sides between Spain and France for advancement, disrespected and undermined colonial administrators sent out from republican France in order to get his own men in place, in fact, he played politics with the revolution, garnering political as well as military power to himself and creating an Assembly to rubber-stamp his constitution. As self-proclaimed governor he took dictatorial control over all aspects of life, taking wealthy plantations for himself or distributing them to favoured cronies, and forcing freed blacks back to the plantations in very harsh conditions which, while not actual slavery – they were paid – were at the very least forced labour.
Of course, Buonaparte and the French couldn’t allow a black man to set himself up as governor of one of their colonies, so sent an invasion force who were certainly planning on restoring slavery as they had done in many other Caribbean colonies. After fighting them to a standstill Toussaint managed to negotiate a truce, but was tricked and imprisoned in France, where poor treatment caused his death in 1803. After his death his remaining forces managed to drive the French from Saint-Domingue, which henceforth became the free nation of Haiti.
This book is a fascinating study, not just of one man who fought for freedom from slavery, but of a whole movement. Recommended.
There were slave revolts and alliances with nearby Spanish Santo Domingo (a slave owning country), French republicans unsure whether to
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emancipate slaves or not, and even British forces invited in by the local French slave owners to bolster their position. The whole region was a confused shambles of conflicting interests. Enter freed slave Toussaint Louverture who fought to free the slaves and against colonial oppression, always advocating equality between black, mixed-race and white inhabitants – to the extent of granting amnesties to white colonists in the face of opposition from his fellow republicans.
The book is a bit of a hagiography but can’t disguise the fact that he was a self-serving opportunist at many points. He hung back from the slave revolt at first, swapped sides between Spain and France for advancement, disrespected and undermined colonial administrators sent out from republican France in order to get his own men in place, in fact, he played politics with the revolution, garnering political as well as military power to himself and creating an Assembly to rubber-stamp his constitution. As self-proclaimed governor he took dictatorial control over all aspects of life, taking wealthy plantations for himself or distributing them to favoured cronies, and forcing freed blacks back to the plantations in very harsh conditions which, while not actual slavery – they were paid – were at the very least forced labour.
Of course, Buonaparte and the French couldn’t allow a black man to set himself up as governor of one of their colonies, so sent an invasion force who were certainly planning on restoring slavery as they had done in many other Caribbean colonies. After fighting them to a standstill Toussaint managed to negotiate a truce, but was tricked and imprisoned in France, where poor treatment caused his death in 1803. After his death his remaining forces managed to drive the French from Saint-Domingue, which henceforth became the free nation of Haiti.
This book is a fascinating study, not just of one man who fought for freedom from slavery, but of a whole movement. Recommended.
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LibraryThing member Roarer
I am ashamed to say before reading this book I not heard of Toussaint Louverture; Sudhir Hazareesingh's account of Toussaint's life, works and long shadow has provided the perfect introduction.
LibraryThing member markm2315
This is a detailed account of a fascinating man's life, but his story is complex and I had to read this slowly.
Awards
James Tait Black Memorial Prize (Shortlist — Biography — 2021)
Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction (Shortlist — 2020)
Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography (Shortlist — 2021)
Best First Biography Prize (Shortlist — 2020)
BookTube Prize (Octofinalist — Nonfiction — 2021)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2020
Physical description
9.45 inches
ISBN
0241293812 / 9780241293812