The little-known story of an eighteenth-century Quaker dwarf who fiercely attacked slavery and imagined a new; more humane way of lifeIn The Fearless Benjamin Lay; renowned historian Marcus Rediker chronicles the transatlantic life and times of a singular man—a Quaker dwarf who demanded the total; unconditional emancipation of all enslaved Africans around the world. Mocked and scorned by his contemporaries; Lay was unflinching in his opposition to slavery; often performing colorful guerrilla theater to shame slave masters; insisting that human bondage violated the fundamental principles of Christianity. He drew on his ideals to create a revolutionary way of life; one that embodied the proclamation “no justice; no peace.â€Lay was born in 1682 in Essex; England. His philosophies; employments; and places of residence—spanning England; Barbados; Philadelphia; and the open seas—were markedly diverse over the course of his life. He worked as a shepherd; glove maker; sailor; and bookseller. His worldview was an astonishing combination of Quakerism; vegetarianism; animal rights; opposition to the death penalty; and abolitionism.While in Abington; Philadelphia; Lay lived in a cave-like dwelling surrounded by a library of two hundred books; and it was in this unconventional abode where he penned a fiery and controversial book against bondage; which Benjamin Franklin published in 1738. Always in motion and ever confrontational; Lay maintained throughout his life a steadfast opposition to slavery and a fierce determination to make his fellow Quakers denounce it; which they finally began to do toward the end of his life.With passion and historical rigor; Rediker situates Lay as a man who fervently embodied the ideals of democracy and equality as he practiced a unique concoction of radicalism nearly three hundred years ago. Rediker resurrects this forceful and prescient visionary; who speaks to us across the ages and whose innovative approach to activism is a gift; transforming how we consider the past and how we might imagine the future.
#2271394 in Books Citadel 2010-03-01 2010-03-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x .95 x 6.14l; .90 #File Name: 0806531312320 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Clint Johnson's "A Vast and Fiendish Plot" is a page-turner.By Barbara W. RochelleNew Yorkers and the rest of us who love New York will be fascinated by the city's early history.Those of us trying to muddle through today's political tangles will be enlightened by the 1860s diaries and newspaper articles revealing the uncertainties of that time.Most interesting of all is the book's portrayal of individual personalities--men* whose strengths and weaknesses influenced the outcome of the War Between the States.*There are no women in this book except for Mary Todd Lincoln.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A great book to readBy John BowA great book to read. Filled with facts. Every Civil War (or War of Northern Agression depending on which side of the Mason Dixon Line you live) enthusiast should have this book on his or her reference shelf.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Rebel Agents Plot Terror Against NYC Financial District; 1864By Civil War LibrarianVast and Fiendish Plot: The Confederate Attack on New York City; Clint Johnson; Citadel Press; 308 pp.; index; 25 illustrations; selected bibliography; notes; $15.95.The Confederate agents' attempt to burn Manhattan is one of the Civil War's intriguing and compelling stories. Clint Johnson's story of the attack on the city is an engaging presentation of motivations and personalities. The chemistry of the incendiaries is broadly covered and the reasons for the non-ignition of the devices. Solid; yet fast moving; the narrative does not linger to long on any one character or activity.During the night of November 25; 1864 an incendiary chemical; known as Greek Fire; was planned to ignite spontaneously on contact with air at almost 20 hotels. The reasons for the failure in part the chemistry of the devices; the planning by the principals; and the nature of the plan. Johnson states if the schedule had been pushed back from 8p to 3a then the fires would not have been discovered by guest.If the docks had been targeted then oxygen supply for the ignition would not have been a problem.The motivation was payback for a Federal raid that took the life of Confederate cavalry leader; John Hunt Morgan who was out of uniform at the time of his death; and retribution for the destruction of barns in the Shenandoah Valley by the Federal army under Sheridan in 1864. The feelings behind the fires are similar to Jubal Early's burning of Chambersburg Pennsylvania in the summer of 1864 in response to Federal burning of the Virginia Military Institute in the late spring of 1864. Johnson sets the Confederate mis-adventure within the war's path through civilian populations.Hoping to damage the Lincoln administration; the Confederate cabinet coached the agents top decided make the assault before election day. Help from Copperheads was expected. Discovery of the plot five days the fires were to occur promoted the administration to rush Federal troops into the city. As the Copperheads back out of the plan two of eight Confederate agents retreated into Canada. The remaining six agents went ahead with the attempt.Early in the story; Johnson dwells on how New York financial powers were tied to the South and why Copperheads were prevalent in New York City. The credit; insurance; and merchant marine industries were closely linked to The Cotton Kingdom before the war. Yet; it is hard to understand the link between the agents; the financial districts interest in terminating the war and the selection of targets. Why burn the financial district when it was the financial district that most desired peace and could pressure the administration to produce it?Johnson sometimes introduces topics; characters and incidents which appear to lead away from the main thrust of the story; such as the Battle of Gettysburg. Also; there are some unsupported generalizations regarding John Hunt Morgan's death as being a genuine contributing factor to the agents desire to burn New York City. Post-war memoirs are taken at face value by Johnson and at times don't seem to bear very well the weight of some conclusions. Yet; the book is enjoyable and is readily accessible to most readers.
