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Blood on the River

A Chronicle of Mutiny and Freedom on the Wild Coast
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( 226 ratings, 43 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
Blood on the River by Marjoleine Kars is a historical account detailing the slave rebellion on the Dutch colony of Berbice in the mid-18th century. The narrative delves into the motivations and experiences of both the enslaved people seeking freedom and their colonial oppressors. Through meticulous research, the book presents a vivid portrayal of the conflict and its impact on the region's history.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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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 book if you're intrigued by vivid accounts of historical revolts and colonial struggles. The narrative delves into the complexities of a major slave rebellion in the early 18th century, bringing to light the voices and perspectives of those who lived through it. This compelling work offers a nuanced exploration of power, resistance, and survival, appealing to readers interested in untold stories from the past.

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A breathtakingly original history of the Berbice Slave Rebellion, the event that almost changed the face of the Americas.

A breathtakingly original history of the Berbice Slave Rebellion, the event that almost changed the face of the Americas

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

THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE BERBICE SLAVE REBELLION

Winner of the 2021 Cundill History Prize
Winner of the 2021 Frederick Douglass Prize

'A gripping tale about the human need for freedom ... spellbinding' - NPR
'A masterpiece ... a story for the ages' - Elizabeth Fenn, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Encounters at the Heart of the World

In February 1763, thousands of slaves in the Dutch colony of Berbice - in present-day Guyana - launched a massive rebellion and very nearly succeeded. For an entire year, they fought their enslavers, dreaming of establishing a free state, what would have been the first Black republic. Instead, they vanished from history.

Blood on the River is the explosive story of this forgotten revolution, an event that almost changed the face of the Americas. Historian Marjoleine Kars draws on long-buried Dutch interrogation transcripts to reconstruct a rich day-by-day account of this extraordinary event, providing a rare look at the political vision of enslaved people at the dawn of the Age of Revolution. An astonishing original work of history, Blood on the River will change our understanding of revolutions, slavery, and the story of freedom in the New World.

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?

Blood on the River by Marjoleine Kars is highly praised for its compelling recounting of the Berbice Rebellion, described as a riveting and richly detailed narrative. Reviewers highlight its success in bringing to light overlooked Black voices and its appeal to both academic and general audiences, credited for its pioneering archival research and engaging storytelling. It is recognised for effectively representing the complexities of the rebellion without romanticising it.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781800812284

Publisher: Profile Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 November 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Profile Books Ltd

Edition: Main

Illustration: b/w integrated

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 32.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 320g

Pages: 384

About the Author

Marjoleine Kars teaches history at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A noted historian of slavery, she is also the author of Breaking Loose Together: The Regulator Rebellion in Pre-Revolutionary North Carolina. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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