The First and Last King of Haiti (UK edition)
About
The dramatic story of a pivotal figure in the Haitian Revolution, who shook the Atlantic world to its core.
Born to an enslaved mother in Grenada, Henry Christophe first fought to overthrow the British in North America, before joining the Black freedom fighters of Saint-Domingue in their quest to gain independence from France. But, at one point, Christophe turned his back on the revolutionaries to side with Napoleon’s forces—only to later fight against them, afterward becoming Haiti’s first and only king. In this remarkable account, Marlene L. Daut shows how Christophe became by turns revolutionary, traitor and monarch. Why did he turn his back on Toussaint Louverture? Was Christophe involved in the assassination of Haiti’s first ruler, Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines? And how did Christophe ultimately become king?The First and Last King of Haiti is the ultimate story of power and ambition in the age of revolutions—and shows how one extraordinary life shaped the course of nations.
Winner of the 2026 Gilbert Chinard Prize from the Society for French Historical Studies
Shortlisted for the 2026 James Tait Black Prize in Biography
Winner of the 2025 Haitian Studies Association Book Prize
Finalist for the 2025 Cundill History Prize
A Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year
A Washington Independent Review of Books Favorite Book of 2025
California Review of Books’ 10 Best Books of 2025
An Amazon Editors' Pick in Biography & Memoir
A Publisher's Weekly Editors' Pick in History