About the book
Eighteenth-century Jamaica, Britain’s largest and most valuable slave-owning colony, relied on a brutal system of slave management to maintain its tenuous social order. Trevor Burnard provides unparalleled insight into Jamaica’s vibrant but harsh African and European cultures with a comprehensive examination of the extraordinary diary of plantation owner Thomas Thistlewood.
Thistlewood’s diary, kept over the course of forty years, describes in graphic detail how white rule over slaves was predicated on the infliction of terror on the bodies and minds of slaves. Thistlewood treated his slaves cruelly even while he relied on them for his livelihood. Along with careful notes on sugar production, Thistlewood maintained detailed records of a sexual life that fully expressed the society’s rampant sexual exploitation of slaves. In Burnard’s hands, Thistlewood’s diary reveals a great deal not only about the man and his slaves but also about the structure and enforcement of power, changing understandings of human rights and freedom, and connections among social class, race, and gender, as well as sex and sexuality, in the plantation system.
Editions of Mastery, Tyranny, and Desire
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807828564
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807855256
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469605029
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807898741
- EBook
- ISBN 9798893131741
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890878663
Read an Excerpt
Eighteenth-century Jamaica, Britain’s largest and most valuable slave-owning colony, relied on a brutal system of slave management to maintain its tenuous social order. Trevor Burnard provides unparalleled insight into Jamaica’s vibrant but harsh African and European cultures with a comprehensive examination of the extraordinary diary of plantation owner Thomas Thistlewood.
Thistlewood’s diary, kept over the course of forty years, describes in graphic detail how white rule over slaves was predicated on the infliction of terror on the bodies and minds of slaves. Thistlewood treated his slaves cruelly even while he relied on them for his livelihood. Along with careful notes on sugar production, Thistlewood maintained detailed records of a sexual life that fully expressed the society’s rampant sexual exploitation of slaves. In Burnard’s hands, Thistlewood’s diary reveals a great deal not only about the man and his slaves but also about the structure and enforcement of power, changing understandings of human rights and freedom, and connections among social class, race, and gender, as well as sex and sexuality, in the plantation system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mastery, Tyranny, and Desire about?
Eighteenth-century Jamaica, Britain’s largest and most valuable slave-owning colony, relied on a brutal system of slave management to maintain its tenuous social order. Trevor Burnard provides unparalleled insight into Jamaica’s vibrant but harsh African and European cultures with a comprehensive examination of the extraordinary diary of plantation owner Thomas Thistlewood.
Thistlewood’s diary, kept over the course of forty years, describes in graphic detail how white rule over slaves was predicated on the infliction of terror on the bodies and minds of slaves. Thistlewood treated his slaves cruelly even while he relied on them for his livelihood. Along with careful notes on sugar production, Thistlewood maintained detailed records of a sexual life that fully expressed the society’s rampant sexual exploitation of slaves. In Burnard’s hands, Thistlewood’s diary reveals a great deal not only about the man and his slaves but also about the structure and enforcement of power, changing understandings of human rights and freedom, and connections among social class, race, and gender, as well as sex and sexuality, in the plantation system.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Mastery, Tyranny, and Desire?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of Mastery, Tyranny, and Desire?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807828564
How long is Mastery, Tyranny, and Desire and how many pages does it have?
Mastery, Tyranny, and Desire has 336 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Mastery, Tyranny, and Desire?
Trevor Burnard
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Mastery, Tyranny, and Desire is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807828564) and paperback(ISBN 9780807855256) and ebook(ISBN 9781469605029) and ebook(ISBN 9780807898741) and ebook(ISBN 9798893131741) and pdf(ISBN 9798890878663)
Where can I buy Mastery, Tyranny, and Desire online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Mastery, Tyranny, and Desire from below
Where can I buy Mastery, Tyranny, and Desire?