Church - Paradise Destroyed: Catastrophe and Citizenship in the French Caribbean

This work began long ago at the University of California, Berkeley, where I was fortunate to be advised by Tyler Stovall, Thomas Laqueur, J. P. Daughton, and Percy Hintzento whom I am indebted for their advice, feedback, and support over the course of my intellectual career. I thank Tyler Stovall for his unending guidance in bringing this work to fruition; J. P. Daughton for his advice on colonial ideology and humanitarianism; Thomas Laqueur for always pushing me to keep sight of the forest and not get lost in the trees; and Percy Hintzen for his engaging recommendations with respect to my works theoretical implications for the Caribbean Basin.

I also thank all my fellow scholars for their help, support, and critiques over the years. Without my supportive friends and colleaguesGene Zubovich, Katherine Eady, Jennifer Allen, Terry Renaud, Vanessa Lincoln-Lambert, Scott McGinnis, and many othersI never would have made it through graduate school, let alone bring my book into the world. I am grateful for my former colleagues at UC Berkeleys Social Sciences Data Lab (D-Lab), in particular Savet Hong for assisting me with my demographic analysis. Without the D-Labs founding director, Cathryn Carson, I would not have had access to the invaluable digital tools and data science methodologies that have influenced and enabled much of my work. Neither would I have had the opportunity to learn from so many other disciplinessociology, demography, education, political scienceall of which shape the pages to follow.

Additionally, I acknowledge those who helped edit my prose and shape my narrative, especially my close friend Eric Kalisher, who has provided essential feedback on nearly all my work for the better part of two decades, as well as Kate Epstein, who gave me invaluable advice on narrative flow and structure. Above all, however, I thank the University of Nebraska Press for making the publication process seamless and transparent. Working with UNP has been a wonderful experience, in large part due to Bridget Barrys professionalism and editorial advice.

Last, but not least, this book would not exist if it were not for my family. The unconditional support of my loving and wonderful partner, Courtney, who accompanied me on this long and demanding journey, has helped me throughout the writing process and kept me grounded over the years. The shenanigans and levity of my rambunctious daughters, Elise and Chloe, have helped keep my spirits up while I created data sets, gathered archival documents, hunted through libraries, and wrote this book.

And finally, Id like to thank my parents for instilling in me a love of knowledge and an unending respect for education.