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The Lion's Teeth
In the winter of 1811, hundreds of slaves from plantations near New Orleans rose up in a desperate but futile attempt to win their freedom. Best-selling author Gretchen Craig presents an unconventional novel based on the events surrounding what became America's largest slave revolt.
The Lion's Teeth takes what we know about the leaders of the revolt and breathes life into them as fully imagined characters. While there is a love story, no account of the tragic history of slave revolts can end in happily-ever-after. Instead, in the struggle to cast off their shackles, these Americans found glory, redemption, and even peace.
Charles Deslondes is the enigmatic leader of the rebellion. He is a trusted, mixed-blood slave driver who has convinced both his owner and his fellow slaves that he is the white man’s creature. Though he has only now discovered the joy of love, Charles is a man of determination and purpose. He will give the signal to begin the revolt even as he prays for a little more time before that day arrives.
Kook and Quamana were African warriors before they were captured in battle and sold to the American slavers. Bearing their ritual tribal scarring with pride, they mask the ferocity in their hearts. Kook plays a happy-go-lucky role, but Quamana barely contains his rage to present himself as a compliant if sullen slave. Both of these men use their charisma and battle skills to recruit and train and inspire the young men who will sacrifice their lives in the coming struggle.
The Lion's Teeth takes what we know about the leaders of the revolt and breathes life into them as fully imagined characters. While there is a love story, no account of the tragic history of slave revolts can end in happily-ever-after. Instead, in the struggle to cast off their shackles, these Americans found glory, redemption, and even peace.
Charles Deslondes is the enigmatic leader of the rebellion. He is a trusted, mixed-blood slave driver who has convinced both his owner and his fellow slaves that he is the white man’s creature. Though he has only now discovered the joy of love, Charles is a man of determination and purpose. He will give the signal to begin the revolt even as he prays for a little more time before that day arrives.
Kook and Quamana were African warriors before they were captured in battle and sold to the American slavers. Bearing their ritual tribal scarring with pride, they mask the ferocity in their hearts. Kook plays a happy-go-lucky role, but Quamana barely contains his rage to present himself as a compliant if sullen slave. Both of these men use their charisma and battle skills to recruit and train and inspire the young men who will sacrifice their lives in the coming struggle.
192 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 19, 2016
The Lion’s Teeth: The Story Behind America’s Greatest Slave Revolt is by Gretchen Craig. It is a novel but it depicts the true slave revolt that occurred in Louisiana in 1811. It humanizes the slaves who revolted and makes an attempt to recreate their lives before and during the revolt. Gretchen Craig does an excellent job of recreation and the slaves become real instead of just slaves.
Charles Deslondes was a slave on the Andry Plantation north of New Orleans. He was the son of a white master but his Mother was able to persuade the Master to give some concessions to Charles although she could not get him to free Charles. Charles could read and write and was slave driver on the Andry Plantation. He was able to go off the plantation and work for other white people and obtain his own money. Andry relied on Charles to run his plantation. Neither Andry nor the slaves knew that Charles was just playing a role. He did what he had to do to help the slaves when he could and yet appease Andry. His was a difficult role to live but he did it because he was waiting for the proper time to revolt. He planned the revolt and recruited the slaves who lead the revolt. From a nearby plantation, he recruited Kook, Quamana, and Mathurin who in turn recruited others. Not even Charles knew everyone who had been recruited. Eventually, the slaves did revolt and marched on New Orleans. They intended to take it over and then free all the slaves in the area and recreate their own society after running the Whites off.
The book is very interesting and keeps you on your toes. Charles kept the time of the revolt a secret until the very end so that the revolt would work. I highly recommend this book.
Charles Deslondes was a slave on the Andry Plantation north of New Orleans. He was the son of a white master but his Mother was able to persuade the Master to give some concessions to Charles although she could not get him to free Charles. Charles could read and write and was slave driver on the Andry Plantation. He was able to go off the plantation and work for other white people and obtain his own money. Andry relied on Charles to run his plantation. Neither Andry nor the slaves knew that Charles was just playing a role. He did what he had to do to help the slaves when he could and yet appease Andry. His was a difficult role to live but he did it because he was waiting for the proper time to revolt. He planned the revolt and recruited the slaves who lead the revolt. From a nearby plantation, he recruited Kook, Quamana, and Mathurin who in turn recruited others. Not even Charles knew everyone who had been recruited. Eventually, the slaves did revolt and marched on New Orleans. They intended to take it over and then free all the slaves in the area and recreate their own society after running the Whites off.
The book is very interesting and keeps you on your toes. Charles kept the time of the revolt a secret until the very end so that the revolt would work. I highly recommend this book.
August 16, 2020
Ummm not sure
What I think about this book. There were times that it was interesting and suddenly it would get boring to me. Looking at the book Tansy I already know that book is not for me either.
What I think about this book. There were times that it was interesting and suddenly it would get boring to me. Looking at the book Tansy I already know that book is not for me either.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews