US university buys rights to Dominica book

The University of Mississippi Press has purchased the United States rights to the most recent book by Dominican author Dr. Lennox Honychurch. The book, entitled, In the Forests of Freedom: The fighting Maroons of Dominica, has already been published in the United Kingdom where it has received praise from prominent magazines and journals that link it to the maroons of Jamaica.

The leading history journal in the UK, History Today, has hailed it as a “vivid account that features the freedom saga of smaller but equally rugged Dominica; Honychurch stresses Dominica’s extraordinary impact on British imperial slavery. This entrancing island narrative illumines wider issues of race and power, rule and resistance, slavery and freedom.”

Meanwhile, the Spectator magazine review stated that “In his lively history of Dominica Marronage, Honychurch chronicles the island’s Maroon Wars of 1785 to 1814 … In the Forests of Freedom opens a window onto a little-known West Indian history.”

Oxford Academic History Workshop Journal praises “a Caribbean historian committed to continuing to tell the story of his homeland and its place in the world. The rest of us should be profoundly grateful for that commitment as well as for the scholarship that accompanies it.”

Based on these and other recommendations, two US universities became interested. The University of Georgia also bid for the rights, but Mississippi won out.

The book, which was first published locally in 2014, gives an account of the enslaved West Africans who escaped from neighbouring islands and plantations along the coast of Dominica and retreated into the mountainous interior, forming camps under the leadership of chiefs such as Balla, Congo Ray, Pharcel, Noel and Quashie, to fight for the liberation of their people.

Anthropologist and historian Honychurch explained that the main reason for producing the book was that Jamaica is usually highlighted as the centre of maroon activity in the Caribbean but the equally dynamic leadership and events in Dominica have been largely ignored. He hopes to correct this oversight in international academia and put the Dominica experience on centre stage.

University of Mississippi online catalogue has described the book as “The untold story of escaped slaves, their battle against colonial overlords, and the lasting impact in the Caribbean”. http://www.upress.state.ms.us/search/books_by_author/2396

The author has dedicated the book to the memory of his late father, Ted Honychurch, who was kidnapped, murdered and burned in the forest after the family home was destroyed by fire during political instability in 1981.

In the Forests of Freedom is also available at Jays Bookstore, Roseau, and Amazon.com

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15 Comments

  1. Cyril Ralph Volney
    October 15, 2019

    Congratulations Sir Lennox. You are indeed a National Treasure.

  2. Freed
    July 23, 2019

    Indeed many of us have the blood of slaves who took their freedom running through our veins. May that blood be stirred up again as we fight for a new freedom from a different kind of oppressor in this modern era.

    Thank you Dr. Honeychurch for your tireless work in bringing our rich history to light.

  3. d-a born
    July 16, 2019

    Big up Mr. Honeychurch. I grew up reading his books.

  4. Casio
    July 15, 2019

    Sell the country. and our history.

    • Daryl Richardson
      July 15, 2019

      The rights to A BOOK, was sold, NOT THE HISTORY OF DOMINICA. In this day and age, this level of ignorance is unacceptable.

    • DA Girl
      July 17, 2019

      Are you for real??? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

  5. Michael Norris
    July 15, 2019

    Our profound gratitude to Dr. Honychurch for his continuing contribution to Dominica. One may disagree with his views or perspective, but it is undeniable that Lennox Honychurch has made an invaluable contribution to Dominica through the recording of its history, broadcasting and cultural arts and community service. Congratulations and best wishes for more success to you, Sir.

  6. Gayle Williams
    July 15, 2019

    Thank you Lennox for all the great work that you have done in telling Dominicans and the World about it’s history. Your love and understanding of the country and it’s people can clearly be seen.On behalf of the good Dominican people ,we extend a pardon for the wrong that was done to your father and family. Thank you for not abandoning Dominica and taking your talents else where.

  7. Mary John
    July 14, 2019

    Interesting, I would really like to read this article.

  8. Lorna
    July 14, 2019

    It was about time that the world got to know that other islands and especially Dominica had escaped slaves. The ruggedness of Dominica was the ideal place for slaves to get away from their slave masters. Congratulations Dr. Honeychchurch

  9. Deborah Gage
    July 14, 2019

    Bravo Dr. Honeychurch.

  10. Rebecca V. Musgrave
    July 14, 2019

    Congratulations

  11. Congratulations
    July 14, 2019

    Congratulations to Dr. Honeychurch. May the platitudes for your work continue, and, also blessings from above.

  12. Braindamage
    July 14, 2019

    Good to let the world know our slave struggles were different from Jamaica.
    Yet to this day, we are still struggling for freedom under political regimes. God bless Dominica, we will be liberated one.

  13. Knowledge is power
    July 14, 2019

    Congratulations Dr. Honychurch. I will check to see if this book is available on Kindle? No more books left after Maria.. not buying..except perhaps for some special ones like this.

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