A Colony of Citizens: Revolution & Slave Emancipation in the French Caribbean, 1787-1804 (Paperback)

by Laurent Dubois (Author) "During the night of Saturday, April 20, 1793, hundreds of enslaved blacks revolted in the area surrounding the village of Trois-Rivieres, Guadeloupe..." (more)
Key Phrases: nominatif des citoyens, citoyens noirs, exiled planters, Victor Hugues, Saint Lucia, National Convention (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A Colony of Citizens . . . at last enables us to assess the true importance of battles in the Eastern Caribbean." -- The Nation --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review
"A milestone in the ever-expanding historiography of Atlantic slave emancipation. . . . Exhaustively researched, richly detailed, and superbly written."
— The International Journal of African Historical Studies



"A rich and important study on Guadeloupe . . . during the Revolutionary period. . . . An extended and subtle analysis of the changing meaning of republicanism and race. Opens the door to such future research, and not just fills the gap in the historiography but firmly places the question of the universality of the Revolution at the forefront of historical research."
— Latin America and the Carribbean

"Elegantly written and meticulously researched . . . will be regarded as the standard account for some time to come. . . . Dubois has done a marvelous job."
— William and Mary Quarterly

"An inherently fascinating tale, and one rich in significance for our understanding of the history and legacies of slavery and racism, revolution and enlightenment, and democracy and human rights. . . . Beautifully written and exhaustively researched. . . . One hopes that . . . the book will be read across the traditional geographic boundaries of the academy."
— The Americas

"An outstanding contribution to Caribbean historiography and Dubois has arguably written one of the best monographs on the Age of Revolution to date."
— Estudios Interdisciplinarios de America Latina y el Caribe

"In this impressive work, Dubois reveals a world of ideas and conflicts that will astonish even most specialists of eighteenth-century history. One of the most informative works of history [I] have read in a long time."
— American Historical Review

Dubois explores the slave revolts that brought about the abolition of slavery in the French Caribbean in 1793-1794, the contradictory form this emancipation took, and the process through which it was reversed in bloody conflicts in the early 19th century.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 456 pages
• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press (September 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807855367
• ISBN-13: 978-0807855362
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #315,854 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read to understanding how the Caribbean was shaped, December 29, 2006

By	Lehigh History Student - See all my reviews

The end of slavery in the French Caribbean is a story that has many facets. This book looks at one of the smaller islands (Guadalupe) and tracks its progress as it tries to free itself from the grips of slavery. Dubios tells a very good story and it is well written. The book focuses on Guadalupe but also gives a sense of what is happening in the entire British and French Caribbean. Dubios in his other books really provides a complete picture of what is occurring in the Caribbean and they are all recommended.