The First and Last King of Haiti

“Impressively researched. . . . Everyone should know this story of revolution and of Christophe, the first and last king of Haiti—it should be taught in our schools.”—Simon Sebag Montefiore, Times (UK) “This monumental work is a true labour of love. . . A remarkably vivid portrait of a fascinating and charismatic and man.”—Jess Moreney, Dorset Magazine “A fascinating, in-depth, and meticulously researched biography of Haiti’s revolutionary-turned-king.”—Edwidge Danticat, author of Breath, Eyes, Memory “Daut is meticulous, indeed, forensic, in her examination of the extant archival and textual documentation of Christophe’s life and times. Daut’s monumental work conclusively demystifies one of the most misunderstood, romanticized and demonized figures of the Haitian Revolution in order to set him free once more. This is an important, signal work from one of Haiti’s leading historians.”—Myriam J. A. Chancy, author of Harvesting Haiti: Reflections on Unnatural Disasters “A tour de force. Daut brings King Henry Christophe vividly back to life in this deeply researched and rivetingly told biography. In a work overflowing with new archival discoveries and insights, she carries us expertly through a moment of revolutionary political thought and cultural transformation that reshaped our world and its possibilities. Everyone should know this history.”—Laurent Dubois, author of Haiti: The Aftershocks of History “Meticulous in her research, Daut shows us, often for the first time, the various personal, cultural, political, and financial forces that created the controversial future king in all his complexity, as well as the specific contours of his leadership—and his failures.”—Amy Wilentz, author of The Rainy Season: Haiti Since Duvalier