First published 2011
Daniel Rasmussen brings to light the buried story of the 1811 New Orleans slave revolt, the largest uprising in American history. Through meticulous detective work, he reconstructs how this massive rebellion unfolded and why it vanished from historical memory. Rasmussen argues that this forgotten revolt reveals crucial truths about American expansion, the roots of the Civil War, and early resistance to slavery. His investigation shows how stories become distorted over time and how powerful interests can erase inconvenient truths from the historical record. The book demonstrates that what we think we know about the past often reflects deliberate omissions rather than complete accounts. Rasmussen offers readers a chance to discover a pivotal moment that shaped American history, providing fresh perspective on slavery, resistance, and the forces that determine which stories survive.
Genres: historical-fiction, 19th-century, african-american-historical-fiction, american-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: forgotten-history, historical-fiction
Setting: New Orleans
Period: 1811
288 pages · Hardcover · Harper
Content warnings: slavery