Secret History; or, the Horrors of St. Domingo (eBook)

Leonora Sansay (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2022
89 Seiten
DigiCat (Verlag)
859-654725471-3 (EAN)

Infos

In 'Secret History; or, the Horrors of St. Domingo,' Leonora Sansay delivers an intimate and harrowing account of the Haitian Revolution, intertwining historical events with personal narratives that challenge the conventions of early 19th-century literature. Employing a unique epistolary form, Sansay captures the visceral realities of life in a society on the brink of upheaval, blending rich descriptive language with poignant reflections on race, power, and colonialism. Her work stands as a critical commentary on the impact of revolution not only on social structures but also on personal identities, situating her narrative within the broader context of Romantic literature, which often sought to illuminate the human condition amid tumultuous change. Leonora Sansay, an American author of the early 1800s, drew upon her own experiences in the Caribbean and her connections to the tumult of the Haitian Revolution, which profoundly shaped her worldview. Born into a society steeped in the politics of slavery and colonialism, Sansay's firsthand observations of the era's violence and complexity inform her writing, allowing her to craft a narrative that is both personal and historically resonant. Readers seeking to understand the complexities of the Haitian Revolution through a distinctly women's perspective will find 'Secret History' an invaluable text. Sansay's eloquent prose and sharp insights not only engage but challenge audiences to rethink their assumptions about history, race, and the intricacies of human experience within the broader strokes of revolutionary change.

Autor

Leonora Sansay (1773–c.1821) was an early American novelist, best known for her epistolary novel 'Secret History; or, The Horrors of St. Domingo' (1808). Her work is often valued for its insights into the complexities of gender relations and colonial politics during the turbulent revolutionary era in the Caribbean. Sansay was born Leonora Barry in Philadelphia, and her life is largely reconstructed from letters and her writings, as much of it remains shrouded in mystery. Her marriage to Aaron Burr's agent, Louis Sansay, gave her a front-row seat to the unfolding drama of the Haitian Revolution. Her vivid narrative, cast in the form of letters reportedly based on her own experiences, recounts the lives of the women caught in the throes of political upheaval. Leonora's stylistic finesse lies in subtly intertwining personal tales with broader political events, creating an intimate portrayal of societal distress from a woman's perspective. Sansay's work has garnered attention not just for its literary merit but for its historical significance, contributing to scholarship on the period and providing an invaluable woman's viewpoint on the events of her time. Her literary style, which includes a blend of personal reflection and social commentary, effectively bridges the gap between fiction and historical record, inviting readers to ponder complexities of human experience during times of crisis.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 4.9.2022
• Verlagsort: Prague
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Historische Romane
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Geschichte
• Schlagworte: 1791-1804 • 19th century historical novels • 19th Century Romance • 20th-century reprint • African diaspora experiences • African diaspora narratives • American author • Caribbean colonial history • Caribbean independence struggle • caribbean setting • Colonial atrocities • Cultural diversity • cultural identity exploration • epistolary historical fiction • female perspective history • female protagonist • Haiti • Haitian Revolution history • Haitian Revolution narrative • historical fiction • historical fiction classics • History • Leonora Sansay literature • personal account atrocities • political turmoil depiction • Revolution • revolutionary era • revolutionary upheaval themes • Romantic plot • Secret History novel • slave rebellion accounts • social life and customs • St. Domingo uprising • tragic themes • women writers of the 1800s