Marlene Daut, a Yale professor and author known for her insightful works on Haitian history, shares her unique writing process blending creativity and scholarship. She delves into the challenges of shifting from literary criticism to narrative storytelling, emphasizing the importance of multiple perspectives. Marlene discusses the lavish yet oppressive world of pre-revolutionary Haiti, highlighting Henri Christophe's experiences. Additionally, she explores the complexities of crafting historical narratives and the need for inclusive storytelling that enriches our understanding of the past.
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Return to Storytelling
Marlene Daut initially aspired to write novels and short stories as a child, even majoring in creative writing.
She transitioned to academic writing in graduate school but now returns to storytelling with her latest book.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Writing Habits
Write at home in a comfortable, personalized space.
Treat writing like a job, not waiting for inspiration, and write daily.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Grocery Store Editing
Daut uses the Word app on her phone to edit while at the grocery store.
Her family finds this habit amusing.
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A Harvard Professor, a Con Man, and the Gospel of Jesus's Wife
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The Haitian Revolutionary Fictions
The Haitian Revolutionary Fictions
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Awakening the Ashes: An Intellectual History of the Haitian Revolution
Awakening the Ashes: An Intellectual History of the Haitian Revolution
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I Have Avenged America
I Have Avenged America
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The First and Last King of Haiti
The First and Last King of Haiti
The Rise and Fall of Henri Christophe
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Meditations
Marcus Aurelius
Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.
The Black Jacobins
Toussaint L'Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution
C. L. R. James
Written by C.L.R. James in 1938, 'The Black Jacobins' is a pioneering historical work that recounts the Haitian Revolution of 1791–1804. The book places the revolution in the context of the French Revolution and highlights the leadership of Toussaint L'Ouverture, who rose from being a slave to a prominent figure espousing the French Revolutionary ideals of liberty and equality. James's work challenges conventional historiography by emphasizing the agency of the enslaved and their role in shaping their own history. It also explores the broader implications of the Haitian Revolution, linking it to the destruction of European feudalism and the global struggle against colonialism and slavery[1][4][5].
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Rebecca Skloot
The book narrates the story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor black tobacco farmer whose cervical cancer cells, known as HeLa cells, were taken without her knowledge in 1951 and have since become one of the most important tools in medicine. The cells have been used in developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, and more, yet Henrietta's family remained unaware of her 'immortality' for decades and never benefited financially from the cells. The book delves into the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over body ownership. It also explores the personal story of Henrietta's family, particularly her daughter Deborah, and their struggles with the legacy of her cells[2][4][5].
Black Spartacus
The Epic Life of Toussaint Louverture
Sudhir Hazareesingh
This book is a work of both biography and intellectual history, offering a nuanced and balanced account of Toussaint Louverture's life. Hazareesingh delves into Louverture's ability to unite European, African, and Caribbean traditions in the service of his revolutionary aims. The book provides new insights into seminal events such as the initial insurrection of 1791 and highlights the importance of Vodou to the revolutionaries. It also explores Louverture's use of Enlightenment ideas to argue for the equal dignity of all human beings and his significant impact on the postcolonial world[1][2][4].
This is Drafting the Past, a podcast about the craft of writing history. In this episode, host Kate Carpenter is joined by historian Dr. Marlene Daut. Marlene is a professor at Yale University and is the author of four books, as well as an editor of several more. The most recent two of those books are Awakening the Ashes: An Intellectual History of the Haitian Revolution, which was a winner of the 2024 Frederick Douglass Book Prize, and The First and Last King of Haiti: The Rise and Fall of Henry Christophe. She is also the author of many articles and essays in places like The New Yorker, Harper’s, Essence, The Nation, and more. Our conversation covers some burning questions about Marlene’s work, including how she works on more than one book at a time, why you might find her typing into her phone at the grocery store, and she is inspired by the work of investigative journalists. Enjoy Kate’s conversation with Dr. Marlene Daut.
Drafting the Past 
