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)
Other Audiobook
Audiobook: Katerpoesie
Grossteils sehr kurze Gedichte! Paul Scheerbart wurde als früher Expressionist in der Glasbau-Architektur bekannt und
Audiobook: The Doctor’s Dilemma
The Doctor’s Dilemma is about Dr. Colenso Ridgeon, who has recently been knighted because of
Audiobook: Ivanov
Nicolai (anglicised Nicholas in this translation) Ivanov, a middle-aged public servant, is unhappy. His wife
Audiobook: Sleeping Sickness
In the twenty-first century sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis in humans) is still a life-threatening disease
Audiobook: Our Little Australian Cousin
Another delightful look back at how people and children lived in the late 1800s in
Audiobook: Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 1
The first of six volumes, this volume covers in extensive detail the topics of “The
Audiobook: Starved Rock: A Historical Sketch
This book is an early history of the Starved Rock Area in Northern Illinois. In
Audiobook: Slovenly Betsy
Hienrich Hoffmann was a German psychiatrist and doctor. He had written poetry and sketches for
Audiobook: Grim: The Story of a Pike
“To devour others and to avoid being devoured oneself,that is life’s end and aim.” This
Audiobook: Poems and Prose for the Departed
This is a collection of short poems and readings, both religious and secular, on death
Audiobook: Two Little Knights of Kentucky
In this volume the Little Colonel returns to us like an old friend, but with
Audiobook: Über die Iphigenie auf Tauris
Dieser dritte Band der Goethischen Werke … In griechischer Form, deren er sich ganz zu