Juste Chanlatte: A Haitian Life

Juste Chanlatte holds a peculiar position among Haitian historical figures: though he was an integral component of early independent Haitian political and literary culture, his writings have long been denigrated even by Haitian critics, and essential details of his life—such as his birthday, or his movements and deeds during the Revolution—remain mysterious. In particular, Chanlatte’s whereabouts in the crucial decade between the English invasion of 1793 and the defeat of the Leclerc expedition in 1803 have been the object of much speculation. Much of what has generally been taken for granted about Chanlatte’s life comes from posthumous, seldom sourced, and often hostile accounts. This article offers the most complete biography of Chanlatte to date, supported by evidence drawn from French colonial records and other archival sources.