I really wanted to like this one much more than I did. But my reading experience was less because it’s not a great book and more, I think, that I am not the target audience for this. This book is not for more ‘casual’ readers, and reads more like it’s aimed for an academic audience.

The book is a detailed account of Toussaint Louverture’s life, with a heavy focus on his career as a revolutionary, leader, and politician. A fascinating figure, who was ultimately captured and imprisoned by Napoleon, cementing him as a martyr. We get detailed accounts of his battles, his dealings with the Americans, British, and French, and a comprehensive idea of what he would come to represent. It did feel, however, like the book was missing just a bit more about his personal life, though it does include the basic details of his family.

It was very detailed, however, and read as fairly balanced, pointing out his successes and failures, showing enough of both in writing that read as objective, allowing the reader to make up their own mind. It’s a good approach, but it also meant the book overall read as very dry. There are a lot of names, dates and battles, which I know others will appreciate much, much more than me.

I came out of this book glad to have learnt a lot about Toussaint Louverture and Haiti, but conscious of the fact a lot of it kind of went over my head, though I feel more aware of what the gaps in my knowledge are. He is definitely a very fascinating figure; complicated, intelligent, and with an ability to draw together the different fractions, classes and races living on Haiti at the time, as well as dancing around various diplomats to ensure his own way was followed.

I think if you know more about Toussaint Louverture himself, Haiti and the revolution, and the history of French colonies, and want to discover more about this man, you would get a lot out of it. Similarly, if your history focus is more academic based, and you don’t mind dry text, this is a well put together biography of a key figure in history, and does an excellent job of outlining the important moments of his life.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I keep meaning to explore more about the Haitian revolution and this book was the perfect solution. This was an enthralling and comprehensive biography with an engaging writing style.

I can't believe I am critizing a biography for being a biography...

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a free ARC.

Very impressive not only in its rooting out material (at least unknown to me) but in its fervour, its admiration of a true native revolutionary .. I had no idea the extent of his political creativity and respectful attentions to humane backers. An important history and clearly we written .. his personal biography is carefully intertwined with context of time and place. Extremely readable cwith direct content implies to reader .. highly recommended ...

'The ambition behind this biography is to cut through these thickets and find our way back to Toussaint: to return as far as possible to the primary sources, to try to see the world through his eyes, and to recapture the boldness of his thinking and the individuality of his voice.'

While this certainly isn't the first 'life' of the ex-slave who led the Haitian slave rebellion in the eighteenth century, this is a modern reading of Louverture that is cognisant of issues of race, post-colonialism and ideological readings of the past. Hazareesingh delves into the archives to find documents previously ignored or used selectively and re-examines them to offer revealing insights from our modern horizons. At the same time, this isn't a hagiographical book: the withholding of civic roles for women, for example, within Toussaint's republicanism is flagged up (even if it is forgiven...)

There is perhaps more detail on Toussaint's role as a general than I'd have liked as a lay reader so I did find myself skimming some sections - it's a shame, too, that many of the personal letters and papers were destroyed so that intriguing notes to TL's many mistresses are no longer extant and we don't get a strong sense of the private man.

Nevertheless, Toussaint's subversive role as the leader of a slave revolt and the founder of a republican state in Haiti speaks against historical (and not so historical...) rhetoric about abolition being bestowed on Caribbean slaves by humanitarian Europeans and of the impossibility of colonised subjects having the capacity to rule themselves.

I especially enjoyed the last two chapters that explore the representations of Toussaint from the eighteenth century forwards by artists from Wordsworth to Jean-Michel Basquiat; and his influence on politicians, thinkers and revolutionaries including Fidel Castro, Pablo Neruda, and Aimé Césaire.

Thanks to Penguin Press UK and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is an impeccably researched account of the life of Toussaint Louverture, a key figure in the 18th century Haitian Revolution.

I feel like this book would be enjoyed more by serious scholars rather than the lay reader. I think it might need to be edited down a bit to appeal to most readers as I found the level of detail overwhelming for a non-academic text.

I can’t say anything against it, but I can’t say I found it an enjoyable reading experience. Not because of the subject matter as it is clear Louverture was a fascinating man, I just found it a bit of a trial to get through. My rating is based on my own personal enjoyment of the novel, not its merit as a factual text.

I as completely enthralled by this biography, I knew very little going in about Toussaint, but by the end , this book made me feel really knowledgeable, it also goes into great depth without losing any of your interest. The author has the skill to be detailed, but keep you interested even though it is largely academic. I found the inclusion of newspaper clippings, artist impressions and posters etc to be really useful, after all we are all visual beings, even avid readers and I feel it adds to the history. Sudhir is succinct, to the point and writes in plain English, clear and understandable, a completely accessible style. A great book to learn about a great man whose influence was and is felt long after his death.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I was curious to read this book because, although I was vaguely aware of Toussaint as a cult figure among Haitian people as the founder of their free nation, I really didn't know much else. Add that to the very cool title and front cover and I was sold.

As a route to gaining insight into Toussaint's approach to battle and strategy this book is excellent, it is packed with sources and references. I appreciated the inclusion of artwork, posters and newspaper clippings which brought the text to life. Unfortunately not much is known about the early life of Toussaint, even the year of his birth is in contention and so understandably the focus of this book is on his time as a general and leader of the people of Saint Domingue, which eventually became modern day Haiti following the slave revolt of 1791. While I found Toussiant's war victories interesting to read about, I was disappointed there wasn't more about his personal life. Call me nosy but those are the things that really interest me, there was minimal reference to his wife, children and mistresses. Toussaint didn't seem to have many confidantes or friends either which made it hard to connect with him as a person and get to know him on a deeper level.

Hazareesingh's writing style is quite academic and while the language is clear and easy to read, I did not always find it entertaining or compelling. As the book went on, I struggled to focus on what seemed to be unending descriptions of battles and negotiation strategies. I suspect I would have benefited from reading the book more slowly alongside other lighter works to break it up a bit as it was dense in some parts.

What I can't fault Hazareesingh on is his research, he did the work no question! He even manages to dispel some myths about Toussaint. Rather than describing him as a blood-thirsty rebel who sought freedom for himself and his people at any cost, we see that Toussaint was ultimately a man of principle who valued rules and wanted to gain freedom through the correct channels. He did not gain respect from his people through tyranny but rather by unifying them under a shared purpose and giving them a sense of self worth. Toussaint wanted to work alongside the French not in opposition to them and everything he did had the underlying objective of proving to his white counterparts that black people were capable of behaving honourably and ruling themselves. Towards the end of the book, Hazareesingh demonstrates how Toussaint has influenced modern art and literature; it was fascinating to see how a figure who has been dead for over 200 years still has the power to inspire.

If like me you would like to know more about Toussiant and how he came to hold his current mythical status, this book would be a great place to start and will no doubt act as a springboard to seek out more information on this exceptional historical figure. `

This book is a feat of authorial genius. The author has managed to gather a great deal of information on the life and times of Toussaint Louverture, one time slave, later heroic figure of Haiti. This book is fascinating, upsetting and uplifting. This man was an example of courage over adversity and his story is well worth reading. I highly recommend and convey my thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book.