A History of the Fedon Rebellion (Encounters with Empire)

In 1795, an attempted revolution in the British colony of Grenada took place, led by the enigmatic Julien Fédon. While ultimately unsuccessful, this bloody uprising shifted the balance of power in the Caribbean and fundamentally changed the way the British crown ran its colonies. But what might have happened had Fédon's rebellion played out differently, with a more consistent message on enslaved emancipation and mixed-race empowerment?

In this compelling new book, historian Kit Candlin tells the captivating story of the rebellion in Grenada, full of secret plans and clandestine meetings, frayed nerves and paranoia, in a highly unstable, interconnected world. Its protagonists form a diverse collection of transient adventurers, itinerant planters, free people of colour and the enslaved – the flotsam of one of the most polyglot, contested and liminal places in the Atlantic World.

While not as well known as its Haitian counterpart, the Grenadian revolution played a crucial role in shaping the British Empire, and understanding its history brings further nuance and context to the bitter legacy of colonialism in the region. Candlin's rich tale of what happened – and what might have been – is not to be missed by anyone interested in the Caribbean in the Age of Revolution.