In a remarkable feat of historical detective work; David Robertson illuminates the shadowy figure who planned a slave rebellion so daring that; if successful; it might have changed the face of the antebellum South. This is the story of a man who; like Nat Turner; Marcus Garvey; and Malcolm X; is a complex yet seminal hero in the history of African American emancipation.Denmark Vesey was a charasmatic ex-slave--literate; professional; and relatively well-off--who had purchased his own freedom with the winnings from a lottery. Inspired by the success of the revolutionary black republic in Haiti; he persuaded some nine thousand slaves to join him in a revolt. On a June evening in 1822; having gathered guns; and daggers; they were to converge on Charleston; South Carolina; take the city's arsenal; murder the populace; burn the city; and escape by ship to Haiti or Africa. When the uprising was betrayed; Vesey and seventy-seven of his followers were executed; the matter hushed by Charleston's elite for fear of further rebellion. Compelling; informative; and often disturbing; this book is essential to a fuller understanding of the struggle against slavery.
#434690 in Books 1995-10-03 1995-10-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.98 x .96 x 5.19l; .79 #File Name: 0679738460439 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. ... a little confusing in places but it gave a great tale of the SephardimBy CustomerIt was a little confusing in places but it gave a great tale of the Sephardim.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Well writtenBy CustomerVery informative and enjoyable read; which is a feat accomplished for a history book.14 of 14 people found the following review helpful. Fantastic introduction to Sephardic HistoryBy Joaquin TomasIf you are at all interested in the history of the Sephardic people this is the book to get. Sachar takes you on a journey from the plains of Al-andalus to the deserts of the Ottoman Empire; the thriving metropolis of the Dutch; to the modern state of Israel. The book is utterly readable and reads less like a dry history book and more like a novel where the central character is an entire nation. There is relatively little in the way of books about the Sephardic experience; and those that do exist for the most part are stiff and scholarly. Sachar makes it palatable while at the same time showing an incredible breath of knowledge and research that went into this book. BUY IT NOW!
