Toussaint Louverture

The Story of the Only Successful Slave Revolt in History

CLR James, Sakina Karimjee, Nic Watts

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Paperback

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English

Verso Books
27 February 2024

Graphic novels: literary & memoirs; Graphic novels: true stories & non-fiction; History of the Americas; National liberation & independence, post-colonialism

When C.L.R. James's Toussaint Louverture: The Story of the Only Successful Slave Revolt in History opened in London featuring Paul Robeson in 1936, it was the first time black actors starred on a British stage in a play written by a black playwright. But after this extraordinary play ended its run, the script was lost for almost 70 years. Then a draft copy was found among James's archives, and now this groundbreaking drama has been turned into a graphic novel by artists Nic Watts and Sakina Karimjee.

The polymath intellectual and Trinidadian revolutionary James, who wrote many books, including analyses of world politics, novels, and a seminal cultural study of cricket, is perhaps best known as the author of the classic history of the Haitian Revolution, Black Jacobins. But James wrote this story first not as history but as theatre, and Toussaint Louverture brings his brilliant interpretation of the epic of the Revolution into rousing, dramatic form.

This book reproduces the stirring script James wrote, and which united James for at least one night with his friend Robeson on the London stage, when the playwright was forced to stand in for an absent actor.

By: CLR James
Illustrated by: Sakina Karimjee, Nic Watts
Imprint: Verso Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 241mm, Width: 158mm,
Weight: 1.435kg
ISBN: 9781788737906
ISBN 10: 1788737903
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 27 February 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

C.L.R. James was a Trinidadian historian, novelist, activist, and cultural and political critic. He wrote many books, including Black Jacobins: Toussaint L'Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution. Nic Watts and Sakina Karimjee are artists based in London. This is their first book.

Reviews for Toussaint Louverture: The Story of the Only Successful Slave Revolt in History

The drawings are fantastic and the energy palpable on every page. -- Joe Sacco, journalist and comic book artist, author of Palestine A marvellous adaptation of one of the most important black history and slave history books ever written. C.L.R. James would be delighted. -- Paul Buhle, authorized biographer of C. L. R. James and editor of more than twenty radical history graphic novels An epic work of graphic history - a compelling, dramatic, detailed, delicate, and human rendition of this incredible tale of resistance -- Kate Evans, author of Red Rosa: The Graphic Biography of Rosa Luxemburg The inspiring spirit of the men, women and children who made the Haitian Revolution has been beautifully and vividly brought to life as never before. This extraordinary work is a wonderful tribute to not only C. L. R. James but also to the greatest ever movement to demand Black Lives Matter. -- Christian Høgsbjerg, co-author of Toussaint Louverture: A Black Jacobin in the Age of Revolutions A historically important story, cinematic drawings, a powerful work. -- Charles Johnson, author of Middle Passage The basis for this graphic novel is C. L. R. James' 1934 play, adapted by Watts and Karimjee; readers who don't know what to expect from the graphic-novel adaptation of a play will be pleased with the result...An important piece of history that shouldn't be forgotten. * Booklist * Adapting C.L.R. James's 1934 play, Karimjee and Watts's evocative black-and-white drawings channel the rebellious spirit of the Haitian Revolution in its fight for Black liberation. * The New York Times Book Review * This fiery primer offers education and insights into Haiti's fight for independence. * Publishers Weekly * This is the impassioned and beautifully drawn story of the Haitian Revolution and its incredible leader: Toussaint Louverture * Comics Beat * Their illustrations do justice to the original work, beautifully rendered and depicting dynamic characters and exciting drama. * Keith Harris History * The comic book format, constantly zooming out to the big picture and in on the details, proves immensely suited to the complex parallels between personal and universal struggles around which James's play revolves. -- Mark Rappolt * Art Review *