| Dark Side of the Light: Slavery and the French Enlightenment Subjects: Slavery -- France -- Colonies -- America -- History -- 18th century; West Indies French -- Race relations -- History -- 18th century; Abolitionists -- France -- History -- 18th century; Enlightenment -- France; Translated into English for the first time, Dark Side of the Light scrutinizes Condorcet's Reflections on Negro Slavery and the works of Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Diderot side by side with the Code Noir (the royal document that codified the rules of French Caribbean slavery). In doing so, renowned French intellectual Louis Sala-Molins uncovers attempts to uphold the humanist project of the Enlightenment while simultaneously justifying slavery. |