MASTER OF THE CROSSROADS

Bell, Madison Smartt

ISBN 10: 0375420568 / ISBN 13: 9780375420566

Published by Pantheon Books, New York, New York, U.S.A., 2000

About this Item

With MASTER OF THE CROSSROADS, Madison Smartt Bell brings to life the rise to power of the great Haitian military general Toussaint Louverture and the story of the only successful slave revolution in history. Beginning in 1794, Toussaint led his troops to victory over English and French invaders, over the French political establishment, and in a civil uprising for control of the infant island republic. He extended the ideological triumph of the French and American revolutions by offering universal liberty and human rights to all races. In chronicling Toussaint's victory and its aftermath, Bell gives us a kaleidoscopic portrait of this extraordinary figure as seen through the eyes of the men and women whose paths he crossed. English, French, Spanish, and African--the intersection of people who inhabited the war-torn island creates a rich social canvas against which the astonishing story of Toussaint Louverture--his beliefs, passions, and compulsions--unfolds over the course of nine tumultous years. Madison Smartt Bell is the author of eleven previous works of fiction, including ALL SOUL'S RISING (which was a finalist for the 1995 National Book Award for Fiction); SAVE ME, JOE LOUIS; DOCTOR SLEEP; SOLDIER'S JOY; and TEN INDIANS. Fine, in fine, mylar-protected dust jacket. 732 pp. L39/L20.

Seller Inventory # 10294

Bibliographic Details

• Title: MASTER OF THE CROSSROADS
• Publisher: Pantheon Books, New York, New York, U.S.A.
• Publication Date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0375420568
• ISBN 13: 9780375420566
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition, First Printing
• Printing: 1st Printing
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Modern Literature

About this title

Synopsis

With the publication of All Souls' Rising, Madison Smartt Bell was immediately acclaimed as being "as remarkable a historical novelist as we have in this country" (Harold Bloom). The novel was a finalist for the National Book Award and was praised by writers as "a triumph of storytelling and inspired historical analysis" (Robert Stone) and by reviewers as "one of the year's most substantial literary accomplishments" (The New Yorker).

        Now, with Master of the Crossroads, Bell achieves an even greater accomplishment: he brings to life the rise to power of the great Haitian military general Toussaint Louverture and the story of the only successful slave revolution in history.  Beginning in 1794, Toussaint led his troops to victory over English and Spanish invaders, over the French political establishment, and in a civil uprising for control of the infant island republic. He extended the ideological triumph of the French and American revolutions by offering universal liberty and human rights to all races.

        In chronicling Toussaint's victory and its aftermath, Bell gives us a kaleidoscopic portrait of this extraordinary figure as seen through the eyes of the men and women whose paths he crossed. English, French, Spanish, and African--the intersection of peoples who inhabited this war-torn island creates a rich social canvas against which the astonishing story of Toussaint Louverture--his beliefs, passions, and compulsions--unfolds over the course of nine tumultuous years.

About the Author

Madison Smartt Bell is the author of eleven previous works of  fiction, including All Souls' Rising, which was a National Book Award finalist; Save Me, Joe Louis; Dr. Sleep; Soldier's Joy; and Ten Indians. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.