Frantz Fanon

Psychiatrist, philosopher, and revolutionary, Frantz Fanon (1925–1961) is one of the most important intellectuals of the twentieth century. Born on the island of Martinique, he died in the United States from cancer, following a meteoric career that took him to France, Algeria, Tunisia, and numerous places in between. He presented powerful critiques of racism, colonialism and nationalism in his classic books, Black Skin, White Masks (1952) and The Wretched of the Earth (1961). Yet Fanon remains controversial, given his advocacy of violent struggle, and, consequently, is often misunderstood. This biography seeks to demythologise Fanon by situating his life and ideas within the historical circumstances he encountered. Synthesising a range of secondary literature with first-hand readings of his work, it elevates enduring aspects of Fanon’s legacy, while also countering interpretations of his writing that have granted uncritical omniscience to his views. Written with clarity and passion, Christopher Lee’s account ultimately argues for the complexity of Frantz Fanon and his continued importance today.