Representations of the Haitian Empire in the British Press, 1847–59

Chapter One explores images and texts relating to the Haitian president-turn-emperor Faustin Soulouque that appeared in the British press. These representations contained meditations on the Haitian state and the newly-created Haitian Empire. Although they were produced and published in the British context, they reflect the concerns of interlocutors from across the Atlantic World, including the thoughts and words of observers based in the US, France and, of course, Haiti. Faustin Soulouque intervened explicitly in these Atlantic-wide discussions on the significance of the Haitian Empire by providing counter-representations. Such texts and images produced by the Haitian state, this chapter details, were received, read and interpreted in Britain to alter significantly ideas about Haiti. Concomitantly, the future relationship between British imperialism and people of African descent was questioned and made problematic.