Toussaint Louverture: A Revolutionary Life

The central figure of the Haitian Revolution of 1791, Toussaint Louverture has long been worshipped both in Haiti and beyond as an icon of abolitionism. The reality that materializes in this lucid, deeply researched biography is more complex. Born into slavery circa 1743, Louverture was nearly 50 years old and a freedman when the only successful slave revolt in history erupted in the French colony of Saint-Domingue. Over time, Louverture revealed himself to be a skillful politician and military commander, dispatching his rivals one by one, on his way to becoming governor-general of the colony. He then turned his attention to rebuilding the plantation sector, which the revolution had reduced to ashes. The repressive labor system he imposed differed little from slavery and did nothing to endear him to the masses of black workers. After drawing the wrath of Napoléon, Louverture was arrested and shipped with his family to France, where he died, but not before composing his own account of the revolution. Paul Woodson's narration is clear if a bit affected, with decent but inconsistent French pronunciation.