100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ

๐ŸŽ‰ Meet Toy Hero - our brand-new toy store, built by the team behind Book Hero

Toussaint Louverture

The Story of the Only Successful Slave Revolt in History
4.19 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 177 ratings, 38 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Toussaint Louverture by CLR James, in graphic novel format, delves into the life of the Haitian revolutionary leader who led the first successful slave revolt in history. The book captures his strategic genius, complex character, and the impact of his leadership on the fight for Haitian independence, offering an insightful portrayal of a pivotal historical figure without spoiling key events.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3699
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this graphic novel if you are intrigued by powerful historical narratives and revolutionary figures. It brings to life the story of a charismatic leader who played a pivotal role in the Haitian Revolution, blending insightful storytelling with engaging illustrations to delve into themes of freedom, struggle, and resilience. Suitable for both history enthusiasts and those who appreciate visually compelling narratives, this work provides a rich exploration of a significant period in history.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Longlisted for the American Library in Paris Book Award

Winner of the American Book Award

Winner of the PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award

PERHAPS THE GREATEST VICTORY OF THE OPPRESSED OVER THEIR OPPRESSORS IN ALL HISTORY

An extraordinary graphic novel of a groundbreaking play

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Reviews highlight Toussaint Louverture by CLR James as a compelling graphic adaptation of the author's 1934 play, praised for its vivid depiction of the Haitian Revolution. The illustrations by Karimjee and Watts are celebrated for capturing the rebellious spirit and drama, making it a significant and informative work about Black liberation. Critics commend its ability to educate while maintaining entertainment, marking it as a top nonfiction graphic novel of the year.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781788737906

Publisher: Verso Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 10 October 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Verso Books

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Sakina Karimjee
  • Illustrated by Nic Watts

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 158.0mm

Height: 241.0mm

Weight: 1435g

Pages: 272

About the Author

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.

More from Graphic Novels

View all
  • New Release
    Heartstopper Volume 6
    Read it before you see it: Heartstopper Forever movie coming soon from Netflix Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. The final installment in the bestselling LGBTQ+ graphic novel series about life, love, and everything that happens in between. Everyone in school knows Nick and Charlie. Everyone knows they're going to be togetherforever. But Charlie's busy with...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Lightfall: A Place Between
    In the fourth installment of the award-winning, critically acclaimed Lightfall series, Bea, Cad, and their friends continue their quest to restore light on their dark world. Perfect for fans of Amulet and Avatar, this next book dives deeper into the magical world of Irpa, where ancient secrets and adventures abound.After surviving a shipwreckย on the Fuerre Sea, Cad washes ashore on...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2699
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Tokyo Ghoul Complete Box Set
    Ghouls live among us, the same as normal people in every wayโ€”except for their craving for human flesh. A box set that includes all fourteen volumes of the original Tokyo Ghoul series. Includes an exclusive double-sided poster. Ken Kaneki is an ordinary college student until a violent encounter turns him into the first half-human, half-Ghoul hybrid. Trapped between two worlds,...
    Paperback
    $23500
    Elsewhere:
    $31500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Demon Slayer Complete Box Set
    Contains Volumes 1-23. Full colour. Double-sided Poster and Commemorative Mini-Book. Tanjiro embarks on the perilous path of a Demon Slayer, driven by a mission to save his sister and seek justice for his slain family! In the backdrop of Taisho-era Japan, we meet the compassionate Tanjiro Kamado, a boy who makes a humble living by selling charcoal. However, his tranquil...
    Paperback
    $29500
    Elsewhere:
    $41000
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 1
    Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 1 by Gege Akutami introduces readers to the gripping world of jujutsu sorcery and supernatural battles. This first volume sets the stage for an explosive adventure that intertwines the fate of humans and cursed spirits. In a world where cursed spirits, malevolent entities born from human negative emotions, prey on the unsuspecting, fragments of the legendary demon...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2099
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live
    From the New York Times bestselling author and creator of the hit MrBallen Podcast and YouTube channel comes a vividly illustrated graphic novel featuring nine spine-chilling stories, based on real events, of the horror that lurks within the unknown. In MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live, John Allen, known popularly as MrBallen, returns with another heart-stopping collection of strange and mysterious...
    Hardback
    $4400
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • One Piece (Omnibus Edition), Vol. 1
    One Piece (Omnibus Edition), Vol. 1 by Eiichiro Oda invites readers on an exhilarating journey across the vast and treacherous oceans. Follow the ambitious young pirate, Monkey D. Luffy, and his eclectic crew as they embark on an epic quest to uncover the legendary treasure known as the One Piece, a prize that will crown its possessor as the King...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2899
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Talons Of Power: The Graphic Novel (Wings of Fire, Book Nine)
    For every villain, there is a hero ... Turtle isnโ€™t one of the heroes he reads about in stories. If he were, heโ€™d use his animus powers to help Pyrrhia - instead of keeping his abilities a secret, even from his own sister. Now that Darkstalker, the sinister and impossibly old dragon from Pyrrhiaโ€™s most notorious legends, has returned, Turtle...
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2199
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Berserk Deluxe Volume 1
    In Berserk Deluxe Volume 1, journey into a dark and unforgiving world where the infamous mercenary known as Guts, wielding his colossal broadsword with unmatched ferocity, navigates a treacherous landscape filled with both supernatural and human threats. Set in a medieval realm where power is brutally wielded and exploited, Guts's tale unfolds as he battles demons and soldiers alike, driven...
    Hardback
    $8500
    Elsewhere:
    $10000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 2
    Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 2 by Gege Akutami continues the gripping saga of Yuji Itadori, a courageous high school student with a heart of gold, who finds himself thrust into a dangerous supernatural world. After swallowing a piece of the formidable demon Ryomen Sukuna to gain the power necessary to save his friends, Yuji is caught in an intense conflict between...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2099
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Detective Beans: Adventures in Cat Town
    Detective Beans: Adventures in Cat Town is back to solve all the mysteries that you need solved, and even the ones you don't need solved. He's that good. In between playing Scrabble, having sleepovers, and trips to the beach, there's always time for crime solving. Whether it's who ate Mum's donuts, who has lost their handbag in the park, which...
    By Li Chen
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2200
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 5
    Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 5 by Gege Akutami continues the thrilling saga of Yuji Itadori, a teenager thrown into the perilous world of jujutsu sorcery and cursed spirits. In his quest to save his friends from malevolent supernatural forces, Yuji swallows a finger belonging to Ryomen Sukuna, a fearsome demon whose fragments, if consumed, bestow immense and destructive power. As cursed...
    Paperback
    $2099
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.