A review by andrewreadsbooks
The Black Jacobins: Toussaint L'Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution by C.L.R. James

5.0

This is both a great history and a riveting narrative. Written in an extremely captivating way, this is one of the most digestible histories I have read in a while. I have nothing but praise for this book, and can say that reading it not only helps you better understand the events of the Haitian revolution, it helps you better understand and analyze all revolutions. I especially loved the section analyzing Touissant’s mistakes near the end of taking the people’s support for granted, which not only shows the mistakes that a leader can make, but also brings the people’s consciousness into clarity by juxtaposing it against a leader who has fallen behind the people.