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Avengers of the New World: The Story of the Haitian Revolution | 
 enlarge | Author: Laurent Dubois
Publisher: Belknap Press
Category: Book
List Price: $20.00
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Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 193928
Media: Paperback
Pages: 384
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.1 x 1
ISBN: 0674018265
Dewey Decimal Number: 972.9403
EAN: 9780674018266
ASIN: 0674018265
Publication Date: October 31, 2005
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Product Description
The first and only successful slave revolution in the Americas began in 1791 when thousands of brutally exploited slaves rose up against their masters on Saint-Domingue, the most profitable colony in the eighteenth-century Atlantic world. Within a few years, the slave insurgents forced the French administrators of the colony to emancipate them, a decision ratified by revolutionary Paris in 1794. This victory was a stunning challenge to the order of master/slave relations throughout the Americas, including the southern United States, reinforcing the most fervent hopes of slaves and the worst fears of masters. But, peace eluded Saint-Domingue as British and Spanish forces attacked the colony. A charismatic ex-slave named Toussaint Louverture came to France's aid, raising armies of others like himself and defeating the invaders. Ultimately Napoleon, fearing the enormous political power of Toussaint, sent a massive mission to crush him and subjugate the ex-slaves. After many battles, a decisive victory over the French secured the birth of Haiti and the permanent abolition of slavery from the land. The independence of Haiti reshaped the Atlantic world by leading to the French sale of Louisiana to the United States and the expansion of the Cuban sugar economy. Laurent Dubois weaves the stories of slaves, free people of African descent, wealthy whites, and French administrators into an unforgettable tale of insurrection, war, heroism, and victory. He establishes the Haitian Revolution as a foundational moment in the history of democracy and human rights. (20040323)
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
The Right Book for Such an Important Historical Event May 17, 2005
Dennis R. Hidalgo (Garden City, NY)
17 out of 20 found this review helpful
It was about time that a book like this would appear. In this book Dubois masterfully walked a fine line between several traditional approaches to the Haitian Revolution. While avoiding the extremes of old racists' historians that have blamed slaves for bringing chaos to the island of Hispaniola, he also avoids the hero-making excess of CLR James. Dubois also appropriated lots from Carolyn E. Fick's valuable approach of the revolution from below while still on the sobering side of David P. Geggus.
With the exception of James', there is no work on the Haitian Revolution that is more readable and engaging than this book. Dubois' prose is crisp and vivid-the perfect writing for such a colorful story. The book is not short. But each chapter is full with interesting stories that you can hardly notice you are reading a scholarly history book.
However, there are three issues you should be aware of while reading it. Probably due to the large amount of information and the inclusion of many little stories, the reader can easily lose track of the chronology. So, having besides you a chronology of the events can help you follow each one without problems. Also, because of the scholarly practice of the use of evidence, Dubois habit of story-telling, and his efforts to avoid being judgmental, at first impression the reader may feel that the author is siding with evil. But Dubois evaluation is subtle, and yet very powerful and accurate. And finally, a few typos, responsibilities of the publishing house and not of the author, should not affect the reader's enjoyment of a good and important reading.
 A good new account April 6, 2004
Seth J. Frantzman (Jerusalem, Israel)
8 out of 36 found this review helpful
Although this book excuses and uses moral relativism to explain the violence of the rebellion it nevertheless succeeds in explaining and documenting the slave revolt of 1871 against the French the subsequent victory, the first of its kind by slaves, against the Europeans. Decidedly American in nature, although the author argues it was inspired by the French revolution, the Haitian revolt against both Spain and against England and Spain helped create the second independent republic in the Americas. Toussaint, the leader, became a folk hero and the consequences reverberated all across the Americas, as images of slaves putting their masters to death were scene in the daily papers. Of course the most important political implications is that the Haitian rebellion ended Napoleonic hopes for an expanding empire in the Americas. This is an important analysis and account of the Haitian rebellion, interesting in light of the recent problems in Haiti, which has unfortunately become the poorest country in the Americas, in direct opposition to its American neighbor who gained independence a mere dozen years prior. Seth J. Frantzman
Good Read if you hate people like Karl Baxter September 13, 2006
CDJ
3 out of 11 found this review helpful
The Amerikkkan government has repeatedly blocked loans to Haiti from the IMF, that would raise Haitians quality of life by providing clean water, roads and medical supplies. Why would such a super hyper-power as the U.S. stoop so low as to block much needed aid to it's tiny island neighbor, after the International Monetary Fund was ready to release the loans?
Apparently their "is somebody to blame for their grinding poverty" besides "bad karma".
The Haitians represent the unconquered slave, the valiant Africans who's military genius and tactics are studied even today. Those Haitians who sent Napoleons 60,000 plus army back across the sea, allowing a ungrateful America to acquire the Louisiana Territory.
It is clear to me now, as it was to Dessalines then, that more "whites chopped up by angry blacks" should have taken place, (rather than a loyalty to a country they never saw, France) as it is really all that ignorant Europeans and their European-American cousins understand.
They lack the requisite moral courage and intelligence to right any wrongs as it pertains to Africans through out the diaspora.
Mr. Baxter would undoubtedly have become the victim of a sugar cane machete, at the very least for suggesting that " slavery was better than the conditions back home", which would seem funny were it not so sad of a commentary.
Great: Detailed, but goes down easy March 19, 2006
Eric (Brooklyn, New York United States)
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
This book was a true pleasure to read. DuBois is the kind of historian who deserves to be teaching high school students (I mean this as a compliment) because while makes sure to include all relevant details about the Haitain revolution, he makes this book read like a fascinating story. This is a wonderful and well developed book, suitable for both laymen and scholars.
I am pleased that DuBois kept his editorializing to a minimum and described the events of the Haitian revolution in a very much nuanced manner. I recommend this this book to anyone looking for a detailed, but surprisingly easy to read discussion of that famous "first successful slave rebellion."
Excellent, Engaging Story That Needs To Be Heard January 9, 2006
Pearse O'Sullivan (Lexington, KY)
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
The story of the sucessful slave rebellion, complete with perhaps a dozen illustrations. This work is very engaging, and the subject is rarely studied by today's students. I have recommended this book to many people, it is really great.
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