The Empire of Necessity: Slavery, Freedom, and Deception in the New World

Greg Grandin revisits a notorious 1805 slave-ship rebellion to explore the moral contradictions at the heart of empire. Blending narrative history with political philosophy, Grandin examines how slavery shaped modern ideas of freedom and necessity. His storytelling is gripping, but his analysis is equally incisive, linking past violence to contemporary global systems. The book challenges romanticised views of liberty and progress. It is a demanding, thought-provoking work of historical reinterpretation.