The dramatic story of a pivotal figure in the Haitian Revolution, who shook the Atlantic world to its core
Hardcover
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Summary
The dramatic story of a pivotal figure in the Haitian Revolution, who shook the Atlantic world to its core
Description
The dramatic story of a pivotal figure in the Haitian Revolution, who shook the Atlantic world to its core
Born to an enslaved mother in Grenada, Henry Christophe first fought to overthrow the British in North America, before joining the Black freedom fighters of Saint-Domingue in their quest to gain independence from France. But, at one point, Christophe turned his back on the revolutionaries to side with Napoleon's forces—only to later fight against them, afterward becoming Haiti's first and only king.
In this remarkable account, Marlene L. Daut shows how Christophe became by turns revolutionary, traitor and monarch. Why did he turn his back on Toussaint Louverture? Was Christophe involved in the assassination of Haiti's first ruler, Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines? And how did Christophe ultimately become king?
The First and Last King of Haiti is the ultimate story of power and ambition in the age of revolutions—and shows how one extraordinary life shaped the course of nations.
Critic Reviews
“Impressively researched. . . . Everyone should know this story of revolution and of Christophe, the first and last king of Haiti—it should be taught in our schools.”—Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Times
“This monumental work is a true labour of love. . . A remarkably vivid portrait of a fascinating and charismatic and man.”—Jess Moreney, Dorset Magazine
“A fascinating, in-depth, and meticulously researched biography of Haiti’s revolutionary-turned-king.”—Edwidge Danticat, author of Breath, Eyes, Memory
“Daut is meticulous, indeed, forensic, in her examination of the extant archival and textual documentation of Christophe’s life and times. Daut’s monumental work conclusively demystifies one of the most misunderstood, romanticized and demonized figures of the Haitian Revolution in order to set him free once more. This is an important, signal work from one of Haiti’s leading historians.”—Myriam J. A. Chancy, author of Harvesting Haiti: Reflections on Unnatural Disasters
“A tour de force. Daut brings King Henry Christophe vividly back to life in this deeply researched and rivetingly told biography. In a work overflowing with new archival discoveries and insights, she carries us expertly through a moment of revolutionary political thought and cultural transformation that reshaped our world and its possibilities. Everyone should know this history.”—Laurent Dubois, author of Haiti: The Aftershocks of History
“Meticulous in her research, Daut shows us, often for the first time, the various personal, cultural, political, and financial forces that created the controversial future king in all his complexity, as well as the specific contours of his leadership—and his failures.”—Amy Wilentz, author of The Rainy Season: Haiti Since Duvalier
About the Author
Marlene L. Daut is Professor of French and African Diaspora Studies at Yale University, and the author of several books including Awakening the Ashes: An Intellectual History of the Haitian Revolution. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the New Yorker and the Los Angeles Review of Books.
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