"Originally published in 2025 by Allen Lane, Great Britain"--Copyright page

Introduction. Recovering a vast tradition -- The African foundations of resistance -- 'The most natural desire of the human heart' -- Not to be hurt by the white men -- Full of resolve and determination -- Land of liberty -- Man and brother -- The rights of man are inalienable -- To end this empire of tyranny -- White and Black spirits engaged in battle -- Taking their cause into their own hands -- Conclusion. Honouring our debts. -- Notes -- Glossary -- Timeline of enslaved resistance

"Historian Sudhir Hazareesingh recasts the story of slavery's end by showing that the enslaved themselves were at the center of the action--their voices, their resistance, and their extraordinary fight for freedom. Throughout, [his book] portrays the struggle for liberation from the perspective of the enslaved and, wherever possible, in their own words. It highlights the power of collective action, stressing the role of maroon communities, conspiracies, insurrections, and spiritual movements, from Haiti and Brazil to Cuba, Mauritius, and the American South. These acts of resistance involved entire communities, with women often at the heart of the story as warriors, organizers, and agents of radical change"--