A Concise History of the Haitian Revolution

by Jeremy D. Popkin

This book offers students a concise and clearly written overview of the events of the Haitian Revolution, from the slave uprising in the French colony of Saint-Domingue in 1791 to the declaration of Haiti's independence in 1804.

Draws on the latest scholarship in the field as well as the author's original research. Offers a valuable resource for those studying independence movements in Latin America, the history of the Atlantic World, the history of the African diaspora, and the age of the American and French revolutions. Written by an expert on both the French and Haitian revolutions to offer a balanced view. Presents a chronological, yet thematic, account of the complex historical contexts that produced and shaped the Haitian Revolution.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Politics, 18th Century, France

216 pages, Hardcover

First published November 28, 2011

About the author

Jeremy D. Popkin received his B.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California, Berkeley and holds an A.M. degree from Harvard University. When he was hired on a one-year contract at the University of Kentucky in 1978, the History Department secretary put him in what was then the department's conference room, saying, "Since you won't be staying long, it won't matter." Popkin is still occupying the same office.
Popkin's scholarly interests include the history of the French and Haitian revolutions, autobiographical literature and American Jewish history.

Reviews

[Scott Wozniak · Rating 3 out of 5]

He covers the facts clearly, but is a bit too sparse with the implications and emotions around those facts, at least too sparse for my preference. The challenge for historians with this revolution is that unlike the other major events in this time period, the major players here were almost all illiterate (clever people, but when slaves they hadn't been taught to read and write). So we have only second hand materials (mostly from their enemies). Still, we have pieced together the flow of events and this was one of the most emotionally intense sequence of events.

The revolt started as a wild thing. Then they joined Spain to fight France, then France had a revolution and they joined France (to fight old France) then Napoleon took over France and they left the French again. The Haitian generals fought each other during this time, too, over things like whether any whites should be allowed to stay. And all of this was done against the backdrop of the cruelest slave culture of the western world. Wild, wild events.

[Eddie S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite literally, one of the most boring books that I have endured. The book fell flat after a couple chapters. I refuse to strain through boring books, life is too short for boring books.

[Spooky Socialist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dry and academic, but a decent introduction to the Haitian Revolution.

[Gianmarco Leggio · Rating 4 out of 5]

La storia della rivoluzione (1791-1804) che portò gli schiavi neri della principale colonia francese delle Americhe a costituirsi come Stato indipendente, scardinando il sistema coloniale basato sulla schiavitù. Dopo aver descritto brevemente la storia della presenza coloniale francese a Saint-Domingue, il libro si sofferma sulla società schiavista che aveva fatto le fortune dei coloni e della madrepatria, senza mancare di evidenziare le sue contraddizione rispetto ai principi della rivoluzione francese. E sarà proprio sulla scia della rivoluzione che gli schiavi di Saint-Domingue riusciranno ad ottenere prima l'emancipazione e poi la formale abolizione della schiavitù, per arrivare poi all'indipendenza dopo aver avuto la meglio sull'esercito napoleonico, intenzionato a riprendere il pieno controllo dell'isola.
Tra le varie figure descritte da Popkin risalta quella del leader nero Toussaint Louverture, uno dei padri dell'indipendenza di Haiti, fautore di una società in cui neri, liberi di colore e bianchi potessero coesistere pacificamente, ma non senza inclinazioni autoritarie. Abile politico e stratega, Toussaint seppe anticipare il vento della storia, dapprima alleandosi con i francesi e consolidato il suo potere a Saint-Domingue e poi riconoscendo la minaccia rappresentato dai progetti di Napoleone per l'isola. Incarcerato con l'inganno e trasferito in Francia, il condottiero nero non vivrà abbastanza a lungo da assistere al raggiungimento dell'indipendenza, poi raggiunta nel 1804 sotto gli ordini del suo sanguinario generale Jean-Jaques Dessalines. Tuttavia, i problemi di Haiti, esacerbati da anni di divisioni e lotte intestine, erano solo agli inizi.

[Brutus Bellamy · Rating 4 out of 5]

With regards to military strategy and movement, this book did little to change my perspective on such military history (I've long thought the subject to be quite boring to read even if fascinating in concept). However, with regards to social and political developments over the span of the revolution, Popkin presents a well-researched work that clearly demonstrates the foundations for the current Haitian socio-political climate, the basis for abolitionist considerations of methods to remove the slavery institution, and the origins of an internationally tense relationship with the full extent of revolutionary ideals.

(Style was dry, to say the least, but not fully inconsiderate of readability.)

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much a dry read, doesn't go very deep. But as hard as it is to find anything about Haiti that's been converted to audio, it was worth while. A good overview to a person who's unfamiliar with the subject, although it is easy to get lost.

[Andrea Samorini]

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FROM BOOK: Un nuovo mondo inizia: La storia della Rivoluzione francese (Jeremy D. Popkin)

[Astronova Core · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interessante per i contenuti della rivoluzione ma il modo in cui è scritto è troppo didascalico e accademico, rendendolo spesso noioso.
Non ho apprezzato la mancata possibilità di comprarlo in copertina morbida, la copertina rigida infatti costa un rene.

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting topic which is so rarely covered in history books. But I wish this was a more in-depth documentation of the revolution.

[Jessica - How Jessica Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid history, but a little on the dry side.

[Lee Behlman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful overview of a complex and important subject.

[Stephen Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent, thought provoking book. There was one big flaw however: the genocide of the whites was only mentioned briefly.

[Frantz Paulin]

Very informative. I learned a lot about the Haitian revolution.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very well written and well read. It got a little confusing with all the French names, but I found it all fascinating.

[Rebecca Tait · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really informative academic book, perfect for research on the Haitian Revolution. Heavy on details & very useful for my OU assignment.

[Mathilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's what it says on the label, although the definition of "concise" really depends on the reader. For my purposes, it was very helpful and well explained.

[Sarah Miner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t read this book first - read it as your second or third

[Kaylee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

digestible non-fiction, but i wouldn’t have read it if it wasn’t for the fact that i’m writing an essay on this topic

[Meghan Jones]

Thank you for this helpful resource!

[Arjun Re · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dry and academic, on an interesting topic. Good background on the revolution for those with no introduction on the topic.

[Gnarly Authenticity . · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars usually means I didn't finish the book, but I forced myself all the way through this one because I needed a Cliff-Notes overview of the Haitian Revolution quickly. It was barely worth the three or four hours it took to read the book. Popkin imposes zero clarity on the events of the Revolution (to be fair, such a chaotic swirl of double- and triple-crosses, betrayals & backstabbings has never been seen before outside the annals of the Byzantine Empire). You'd think that, to make up for it, he'd at least allow a hint of the color, drama and horror of the savage race war that took place in Santo Domingo into his narrative, but no such luck. He actually pulls off the feat of making the Haitian Revolution dry, dull and anticlimactic as well as confusing as hell.

[David Petersheim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a gentle and powerful introduction to an event whose fallout still effects the world today. The events and people who were part of the Haitian Revolution are presented in concise and clear terms.

The mix of overview and detail was for me perfect. I was treated to a grand view of events, given enough detail to understand what was going on, and left knowing enough about the subject to want to know more.

[Chase B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice and brief look at the events that led to the independence and creation of Haiti. It revealed many things I thought wrong of the event and people in it. The book also shows some eerie similarities in the arena of race relations that we still see today around the world

[Keith Madsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very helpful book on the history of Haiti. I read it because I have been involved in two mission trips to Haiti, and am planning a third. I also am writing a novel, where the historical background is essential.