Secret History; or, the Horrors of St. Domingo

Secret History; or, the Horrors of St. Domingo is a historical novel by Leonora Sansay, published in 1808. Written as a series of letters to Vice President Aaron Burr, it recounts the experiences of a woman in the French colony of St. Domingo during the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804). The novel explores themes of social upheaval, gender roles, and personal despair amidst political chaos, blending fictionalized accounts with real historical figures and events. As one of the earliest US gothic authors, Sansay's work is notable for its unique perspective on romance and history during a time of turmoil.