Henry Christophe and Thomas Clarkson

Henry Christophe and Thomas Clarkson: A Correspondence provides a detailed and illuminating exploration of the correspondence between Henry Christophe, the self-declared king of Haiti, and Thomas Clarkson, the renowned English abolitionist. Preserved in the British Museum, these letters shed light on Haitian history, particularly during Christophe’s reign in the early 19th century. The letters, remarkable for their clarity and coherence, reveal Christophe as a visionary monarch dedicated to improving his nation’s welfare, countering the common portrayal of him as a ruthless despot. Clarkson, on the other hand, emerges as a diligent and verbose writer, striving to foster understanding and collaboration despite the cultural and political chasm between them.

The collection includes Christophe’s communications, his decrees reflecting administrative foresight, and vivid accounts of his tragic downfall, including his paralysis, suicide, and the subsequent dissolution of his kingdom. These writings highlight Christophe’s grand ambitions to uplift Haiti from poverty and ignorance to self-sufficient dignity. His rule, though marked by authoritarian measures, was aimed at creating a prosperous Black state in a post-slavery world. This correspondence, alongside historical context provided in the volume, not only enriches our understanding of Christophe’s complex legacy but also showcases Clarkson’s pivotal role in supporting Haiti’s development during a turbulent era.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1952.