Product Description

In 1789 the West Indian colony of San Domingo supplied two-thirds of the overseas trade of France. The entire structure of what was arguably the most profitable colony in the world rested on the labour of half a million slaves. In 1791 the waves of unrest inspired by the French Revolution reached across the Atlantic dividing the loyalties of the white population of the island. The brutally treated slaves of Saint Domingo seized at this confusion and rose up in rebellion against masters. In thisclassic work, CLR James chronicles the only successful slave revolt in history and provides a critical portrait of their leader, Toussaint L'Ouverture, 'one of the most remarkable men of a period rich in remarkable men'.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27658 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-31
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

From the Back Cover
The Black Jacobins is introduced by Professor James Walvin whose other books include Black Ivory, An African's Life, Making the Black Atlantic and Britain's Slave Empire.

'A starting point and an intellectual inspiration ... a classic of masterly historical writing.' James Walvin

'One of the last great polymaths ... has gained worldwide recognition for The Black Jacobins, his study of the slave revolt in Haiti.' Sunday Times

'The black Plato of our generation ... the founding father of African emancipation.' The Times

'Contains some of the finest and most deeply felt polemical writing against slavery and racism ever to be published, and it locates the Caribbean and Caribbean society firmly on the world stage.' Time Out

About the Author
C L R James was born in Trinidad in 1901 and was one of the prominent figures in the West Indian diaspora. He wrote extensively on Caribbean history, Marxist theory, literary criticism, Western civilisation, African politics, cricket and popular culture. He died in 1989. James Walvin is Professor of modern history at the University of York and is co-editor of the journal 'Slavery and Abolition'.

Customer Reviews

Read it, you won't regret it!
Fantastic book. The revolt led by Toussaint de L'Ouverture is the only successful slave revolt in history. CLR James' Marxist account of the slave society of San Domingo and its overthrow by the slave rebellion is lucid and inspiring. Essential reading for understanding slavery and its eventual abolition, and also the use by nascent capitalism of the most barbaric means to exploit people in the pursuit of profit.

Another MUST for Caribbeans and their descendants
Simply, this is one of THE MOST IMPORTANT books to be written on the colonial history of the Caribbean and on the (little discussed) defeat of the most powerful European nations of the day - by Africans - in the creation of HAITI, which may be the first African state to be created outside of mainland Africa, in the modern age.

The book would appeal to any reader as it is written in a lucid and narrative style by one of the Caribbean's greatest writers and thinkers - the highly acclaimed Mr CLR James, who took great care to research the evidence contained in the book. I cannot thank and honour him enough for this achievement he left to add to our great heritage.

Historical treasure for all Caribbeans and Africans to behold
This is one of the, if not the most, important books to be written concerning the 'Atlantic Slave Trade' and European imperialism/colonisation in the 'West Indies'/Caribbean.

As such, the book - which is lucidly written in a narrative style - should be read and treasured by all 'West Indians'/Caribbeans and peoples of Africa.