Although few recognize the name of Bras-Coup today, Bryan Wagner's riveting history The Life and Legend of Bras-Coup illustrates why the saga of this notorious escaped slave should be a touchstone among scholars and students of the African diaspora. After losing an arm in a pitched battle with the New Orleans police in the 1830s, Bras-Coup hid for several years in a swamp near the city. During this time, law enforcement widely publicized...