Toussaint L’Ouverture: A Biography and Autobiography

By Beard, John Relly

Book Id: WPLBN0002951118
Format Type:
File Size: 393.11 MB
Reproduction Date: 2012

Title:	Toussaint L’Ouverture: A Biography and Autobiography
Author:	Beard, John Relly
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Non-fiction, Adventure, Biography
Collections:	Audio Books Collection, Toussaint L’Ouverture: A Biography and Autobiography
Historic Publication Date:	1863
Publisher:	LibriVox Audio Books


Citation APA MLA Chicago Relly Beard, B. J. (1863). Toussaint L’Ouverture: A Biography and Autobiography. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.us/

Description
François-Dominique Toussaint L’Ouverture (1743-1803) rose to fame in 1791 during the Haitian struggle for independence. In this revolt, he led thousands of slaves on the island of Hispañola to fight against the colonial European powers of France, Spain and England. The former slaves ultimately established the independent state of Haiti and expelled the Europeans. L’Ouverture eventually became the governor and Commander-In-Chief of Haiti before recognizing and submitting to French rule in 1801. In June of 1802, L’Ouverture was arrested by French forces and taken to France where he was imprisoned at Joux. There he penned his autobiography “. . . to render to the French government an exact account of my conduct.” L’Ouverture died in prison on April 7, 1803 from pneumonia. Although L’Ouverture died a captive of the French, the revolution he led was historically perhaps the most significant world event opposing slavery. It precipitated a re-examination--among the major European powers as well as those in the new world--of the right of all mankind to be free and self-governing. John Relly Beard, an English minister, wrote The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture and published it in London in 1853. Ten years later, the biography was re-published and augmented to include L’Ouverture’s 35-page translated autobiography--along with other documents and contributions by public officials--and was re-published in Boston. This reconstituted edition was titled, Toussaint L’Ouverture: A Biography and Autobiography. (Introduction by James K. White)

Summary
Electronic recorded live performance of a reading

Excerpt
Adventure, Biography, History, Memoirs, Politics, War stories