Bug-Jargal

Bug-Jargal is a novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1826, that explores themes of love, loyalty, and the complexities of relationships during the Haitian Revolution of 1791-1804. The story follows Captain Leopoldo d’Auverney and his friendship with Pierrot, an enslaved African prince, against the backdrop of a slave revolt that would lead to the establishment of Haiti as a black republic. This work is notable for its early depiction of interracial friendship and the moral dilemmas surrounding slavery. The novel is a reworked version of a short story published in 1820 and has been translated into English multiple times, with the most recent translation by Chris Bongie in 2004.