The Black Jacobins

I knew very little about L'Ouverture going into this book, and learned a lot. The writing was engaging, and the information was very interesting.

The author is obviously biased toward the enslaved populace fighting for freedom but, honestly, how else should one be biased?

There are a few instances of racism in the book, attitudes about how "savage" the enslaved people were, etc.

Still, I highly recommend this. 4.5 stars, rounded up

This book is a classic, and reading it, it's obvious why. The raw power of the writing is matched with the author's passion for the subject, and it illuminates an all-too-forgotten period of history. Reading this book will completely change how you look at colonialism, the Enlightenment, and the birth of modern western politics, because all are deeply tied into the Haitian Revolution. This part of history is often ignored and overlooked, and that's a travesty. To understand the French Revolution, you must learn about the Haitian Revolution. To understand colonialism, you must understand the Haitian Revolution. To understand the birth of America, you must understand the Haitian Revolution. This book is essential.

A classic. Excellent, in-depth history of the Haitian Revolution, well-contextualized within the political developments of the era. Brutally honest in his revolutionary critique of events and actions of various leaders, most obviously Toussaint. James' Leninism aside, I enjoyed his extrapolation of events in Haiti into a broader discussion of revolutionary practice. But if you're not familiar with the names and terms of the late 18th century, be ready to look them up - things make a lot more sense that way.