Haiti
Last updated: December 30, 2023
Haiti has been plagued by political turmoil, poverty and natural disasters for years. Our book lists cover the history, culture and literature of Haiti.
The Haitian Revolution was the first and only successful slave revolt in the Caribbean. It led to independence for Haiti in 1803 and became a beacon around the world for others seeking liberty. A biography of the leader of the slave revolt, Black Spartacus: The Epic Life of Toussaint Louverture, won the world's most prestigious history prize in 2021.
The Best Haitian Literature, recommended by Edwidge Danticat
The acclaimed Haitian author Edwidge Danticat chooses five must-reads from the riches of Haitian literature – including 19th-century poems by a ruler’s daughter.
The best books on Haiti, recommended by Christian Wisskirchen
As a country that was created after the first and only successful slave revolt in history, Haiti looms large in the popular imagination. Here, Christian Wisskirchen, founding member and former chair of The Haiti Support Group, recommends five books that reveal much about Haiti and what makes it special, and its fascinating and often traumatic history since independence in 1804.
