It provides a plethora of previously unavailable material about the life of this controversial leader. Delany# will stand as the definitive collection for some time to come. Through careful research, Levine restores Delany to his hard-won rank as a 'representative man' for the African American race.'-#Choice# 'Levine's #Martin R. This is an inventive take on the ways in which political views are forged and recast in the crucible of political agitation.O-#Journal of American History# OWith its powerful style and exemplary documentation this book must be counted among the most important contributions to Delany scholarship in many years.O-#American Historical Review# 'Fascinating. A rich and important study of the complex cross-fertilizations that occurred in antebellum culture.Journal of American StudiesOLevine's analysis. It took me 30 hours to read and it was worth every minute.This is an inventive take on the ways in which political views are forged and recast in the crucible of political agitation.Journal of American History, compelling study. This is an astonishing book about an astonishing man.

And through it all – the degradation, the family struggles, and the ever-present death of loved ones – Douglass nears the end of his life singing hymns not just with his entire heart, but with his entire soul. Blight presents the good, the bad, and the ugly. Yes, this book won a Pulitzer Prize, but one comes away from the book not praising the author (much to Blight’s credit) but praising Frederick Douglass. I came away from this book with a profound love and respect for Frederick Douglass. “Slavery will be attacked in its stronghold – the compromises of the Constitution, and the cry of disunion shall be more fearlessly proclaimed, till slavery be abolished, the Union dissolved, or the sun of this guilty nation must go down in blood.” From day one, he called the Civil War the Abolition War. He built a narrative as grand as the Exodus story.įor the second point, Douglass had keen insight into the future of black Americans and of the country. Douglass envisioned his life and times through these prophets. Douglass’ life was guided by the Hebrew prophets of the Old Testamentįor the first point, Blight shares of Douglass’ abiding love of the Old Testament prophets Moses, Isaiah, and Jeremiah.There is a prophet within us, forever whispering that behind the seen lies the immeasurable unseen.Īuthor David Blight argues the following about Frederick Douglass:

Frederick douglass book david blight