This is the fascinating story of Toussaint L’Ouverture, who rose from being a former slave to governor-general of St. Domingue, (Haiti), leading the colony to its independence from France, which it gained in 1804

"Open the Door to Liberty" is a detailed review of Toussaint L'Ouverture's life and it's aftermath. It tells the story of a great, but forgotten, hero in history from birth to death and onwards. In this book, readers learn about all of Toussaint's achievements, victories, and successes, but they also learn about his downfall and ultimate failure. Although the book is written to make history more of a story, it reads like an excerpt from a history textbook. By continuing the story until well after his death, the book, like most of history, manages to also make all of Toussaint's achievements forgettable. The story of Toussaint L'Ouverture is a interesting and gripping one, but by focusing on many outside things and following a very structured, and chronological outline of his life, the book doesn't do his life the justice it deserves. If readers are just looking for an introduction to Toussaint L'Ouverture's life and his impact on history, this book is an excellent start, but if one is looking to truly appreciate his story, this might not be the one to read. ( )

Excellent account of the life of Toussaint l'Ouverture putting in parallel the life of Napoleon. Both end in captivity. The drama of the 1793 abolition of slavery by the French Jacobins and the attempts to reinstate this awful institution in St.Domingue giving birth to the free nation of Haiti. Great illustrations by Gregory Christie. ( )