The untold story of the battle to legalize free expression in America by the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Ashes to Ashes.The liberty of written and spoken expression has been fixed in the firmament of our social values since our nation’s beginning―the government of the United States was the first to legalize free speech and a free press as fundamental rights. But when the British began colonizing the New World; strict censorship was the iron rule of the realm; any words; true or false; that were thought to disparage the government were judged a criminally subversive―and duly punishable―threat to law and order. Even after Parliament lifted press censorship late in the seventeenth century; printers published what they wished at their peril.So when in 1733 a small newspaper; the New-York Weekly Journal; printed scathing articles assailing the new British governor; William Cosby; as corrupt and abusive; colonial New York was scandalized. The paper’s publisher; an impoverished printer named John Peter Zenger with a wife and six children; in fact had no hand in the paper’s vitriolic editorial content―he was only a front man for Cosby’s adversaries; New York Supreme Court Chief Justice Lewis Morris and the shrewd attorney James Alexander. Zenger nevertheless became the endeavor’s courageous fall guy when Cosby brought the full force of his high office down upon it. Jailed for the better part of a year; Zenger faced a jury on August 4; 1735; in a proceeding matched in importance during the colonial period only by the Salem Witch Trials.In Indelible Ink; acclaimed social historian Richard Kluger re-creates in rich detail this dramatic clash of powerful antagonists that marked the beginning of press freedom in America and its role in vanquishing colonial tyranny. Here is an enduring lesson that resounds to this day on the vital importance of free public expression as the underpinning of democracy. 8 pages of illustrations
#1361810 in Books 2008-07-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.50 x 1.00 x 6.50l; 1.26 #File Name: 0393065863304 pages
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. My Young BarbariansBy glory beFirebrand of Liberty is a little known story of the 1st South Carolina colored regiment which was commanded by Col. Thomas Wentworth Higginson. Stephen Ash tells a riviting story about former slaves who; under the teaching of Higginson; become Union soldiars as brave and disclipined as any white troops.They were the first black regiment to fight for the Union and the first regiment to fight alongside white soldiers. But this book not only tells the story of their fighting history but it also tells about their lives and feelings. Higginson took every opportunity to get to know his men and he enjoyed listening to their stories. They also develp a mutual respect and affection that is touching.One feels it is too bad that they lost their designation as the 1st South Carolina and became the US 33rd. They; of course; were overshadowed by the 54th Massachuttes who became known as the first black regiment. But thanks to this book; they are in their proper place.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Higginson was a great man who is very easy to like and relate ...By BeeDeeThis was such an interesting read!! It's a historical nonfiction about two black regiments during the Civil War in Jacksonville; Florida. The author argues that these two troops; although not the first; changed the Civil War and subsequently the outcome of Union victory and slavery. The story is told from the point of view of Colonel Thomas Higginson; a man beyond his time in regard to his political thoughts on African Americans and women. Higginson was a great man who is very easy to like and relate to.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy kevin ShomoGreat book. Need for research.
