Reviews

Island on Fire: The Revolt That Ended Slavery in the British Empire by Tom Zoellner

murray_reads's review against another edition

dark informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

keishabk's review against another edition

4.0

I grew up in Jamaica during the 70s and half of the eighties, and due to the colonialism hangover that was/is neocolonialism, my knowledge of Jamaican history is paltry at best, bookended by Columbus and the Arawaks (Taino more accurately) and the National Heroes and Independence. This book chronicles a labour strike orchestrated by Samuel Sharpe, one of the seven Heroes, in December of 1831, that led to a fiery uprising amongst enslaved people which precipitated the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1834. The author provides a detailed analysis of Jamaica's early history within the Empire and the political and economic forces that made slavery the scaffolding which held up the wealth of England and her monarchy. (Looking at you Lilibet ;))

This work decenters the white saviour narrative and restores agency to the enslaved Blacks who fought relentlessly for their freedom. My one irritation with this book is the interchangeable use of the words 'slaves' and 'enslaved' to describe Black forced labourers. I've been reading about 'slaves' and Europeans going to Africa to 'get slaves' my entire life, and I welcome the modern turn to humanizing my kidnapped and trafficked ancestors who were not ripe bananas on trees for white people to pluck and force them to work for free. Otherwise, a great read!

ruinedbyreading's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

3.5

Rather white-centric account, in part because white voices were recorded more in the historical records, but also in his language choices: for example, he usually refers to enslaved people as slaves when other words would work as well (rebels, freedom fighters, etc) but never refers to whites by terms such as slavers. 

joy_b's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.0

ryan_dm's review against another edition

4.0

The brutal fallout of a failed revolt told in a undramatic manner, which initially had me feeling a way, but I eventually realised its the only way to get through the subject matter.

It becomes very focused on England and English politics showing how the abolition of slavery was 'just' one aspect of a very unsettled political landscape for the Tories at the time.

Worth a read.

dianat's review against another edition

5.0

Jamaican history for laypeople i.e. not overly academic, but accessible, and compelling. Reads like a novel.
Incredible clarity about the events and political forces that brought about the end of enslavement in Jamaica.
Sam Sharpe’s bravery, cunning, grit, and steadfastness are so clearly drawn.
Read it.

bjfischer's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

4.0