a society on the brink of upheaval. The opening portion of the book sets the stage in Saint Domingo during a particularly oppressive August evening in 1791. It introduces Toussaint and his family, who are waiting for the arrival of a friend, Jean. Tension builds as they observe multiple fires in the distance, which signify the start of a rebellion against the oppressive colonial regime. Toussaint grapples with the moral implications of the insurrection, expressing concern for the consequences of violence against their former masters. As conflicts arise with the looming insurrection, the narrative unfolds to reveal the dichotomy between the revolutionary fervor of the blacks and the anxieties of the white plantation owners, foreshadowing the larger rebellion that will engulf the entire colony. (This is an automatically generated summary.)