This work investigates the life and trial of Marie-Joseph Angélique to challenge the historical narrative that Canada was a slave-free society. Historian and poet Afua Cooper utilizes fifteen years of archival research to reconstruct the 1734 burning of Montreal and the subsequent execution of an enslaved woman. By centering Angélique’s resistance, the author exposes the systemic nature of legally and culturally endorsed slavery in colonial Canada, effectively dismantling long-standing national myths.

The text is regarded as a significant contribution to Canadian historiography, providing a rigorous correction to the historical record. Its scholarly depth and focus on marginalized voices make it a foundational resource for understanding the realities of colonial servitude.