The man who stole himself
Subtitle: the slave odyssey of Hans Jonathan
By: Gisli Palsson ; translated from the Icelandic by Anna Yates
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Published: 2016
Language: eng
Number of pages: 288
ISBN-13: 9780226313283
Subjects: Fugitive slaves; Biography
Work titles: Hans Jónatan
Description: After being born into slavery in St. Croix in 1784, Hans was taken as a slave to Denmark. Having enlisted in the navy and fighting on behalf of Denmark, he declared himself a free man. When he lost one of the most notorious slavery cases in European history, Hans ran away--never to be heard from in Denmark again. After over two hundred years, it was discovered that he fled to Iceland, where he became a merchant and farmer, married, and raised two children. Today, he has become something of an Icelandic icon, claimed for his daring life and courage.--From front book flap.
Notes: Translation from the Icelandic of: Hans Jónatan.

Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Prologue: a man of many worlds; title: The island of St. Croix; title: "A house negro"; title: "The mulatto Hans Jonathan"; title: "Said to be the secretary"; title: Among the sugar barons; title: Copenhagen; title: A child near the royal palace; title: "He wanted to go to war"; title: The general's widow v. the mulatto; title: The verdict; title: Iceland; title: A free man; title: Mountain guide; title: Factor, farmer, father; title: Farewell; title: Descendants; title: The Jonathan family; title: The Eirikssons of New England; title: Who stole whom?; title: The lessons of history; title: Epilogue: biographies.