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Contrary to most slave revolts, the Haitian Revolution (1791–1804) has left a rich archival record that includes documents written by the dominant classes as well as by the people of African descent. Of these, the most notable author was Toussaint Louverture, who during the 1790s wrote hundreds of letters, pamphlets, and proclamations (a few of them in his own hand) in an effort to shape official and public opinion in France and Saint-Domingue (Haiti). Particularly worthy of note is a 21-page memoir that Louverture wrote shortly before his death and that defended his public record as governor of Saint-Domingue. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]