Paperback, 260 pages

English language

Published by AK Press.

ISBN:
9781849354721
5 stars (1 review)

A revolutionary tale of Black and Indigenous insurrection. History as it should have been. Begin the World Over is a counterfactual novel about the Founders’ greatest fear—that Black and Indigenous people might join forces to undo the newly formed United States of America—coming true.

In 1793, as revolutionaries in the West Indies take up arms, James Hemings has little interest in joining the fight for liberté—talented and favored, he is careful to protect his relative comforts as Thomas Jefferson’s enslaved chef. But when he meets Denmark Vesey, James is immediately smitten. The formidable first mate persuades James to board his ship, on its way to the revolt in Saint-Domingue. There and on the mainland they join forces with a diverse cast of characters, including a gender nonconforming prophetess, a formerly enslaved jockey, and a Muskogee horse trader. The resulting adventure masterfully mixes real historical figures and events with a riotous …

1 edition

i mean, i liked it, dont get me wrong...

5 stars

... but it's still just another "war" story. yep, it is liberation. yes, it is satisfying. yes, we need stories like this.

but i also want to know what happens after. give me confederalism. give me alternate universe. give me love after so much blood.

why do we always stop when things get interesting? sigh!