Slave narratives; some of the most powerful records of our past; are extremely rare; with only fifty-five post–Civil War narratives surviving. A mere handful are first-person accounts by slaves who ran away and freed themselves. Now two newly uncovered narratives; and the biographies of the men who wrote them; join that exclusive group with the publication of A Slave No More; a major new addition to the canon of American history. Handed down through family and friends; these narratives tell gripping stories of escape: Through a combination of intelligence; daring; and sheer luck; the men reached the protection of the occupying Union troops. David W. Blight magnifies the drama and significance by prefacing the narratives with each man’s life history. Using a wealth of genealogical information; Blight has reconstructed their childhoods as sons of white slaveholders; their service as cooks and camp hands during the Civil War; and their climb to black working-class stability in the north; where they reunited their families.In the stories of Turnage and Washington; we find history at its most intimate; portals that offer a rich new answer to the question of how four million people moved from slavery to freedom. In A Slave No More; the untold stories of two ordinary men take their place at the heart of the American experience.
#41562 in Books 2002-11-04 2002-11-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x 1.02 x 5.31l; .88 #File Name: 0156027518432 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Hell is being born in Russia under StalinBy Glenda WhiteWhat a tragic life. The author had been snookered by Stalin and his buddies; the thugs; to the max. Surely good 'ole Joe had no idea just what the bad boys did when they locked up enemies of the state. Sadly; the memoir ends much too abruptly; giving me pause that she really had a difficult time coming to grips with the awful thruths which became known after Stalin died.So unbelievable to read about the thousands upon thousands of intelligent; loyal citizens were torn from loved ones; tortured and killed. Only the author's extreme stoicism ; her love of fellow inmates and her love of poetry kept her alive. If there is a Hell; Stalin gets first billing. Then Hitler. And to think; nobody believed what they heard about the Gulags or the concentration camps. Maybe Hell is a mine inside the Artic Circle ; or perhaps a camp guarded by some ghost SS men; aided by dogs of the animal and human variety.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. My reaction when reading this workBy Paulina ZelitskyEugenia Ginzburg memoirs are not simply a testimony of the victim of Stalinist terror in the Soviet Union but also a talented literately description of her personal observations and experiences during this historic period of dictatorship by a single political party. What truly amazes me is how persistent could be "the utopian dream' for such honest and talented; educated individuals as was Eugenia and her comrades (prisoners of Gulag) that they never; even during their most difficult moments; perceived that the fundamental idea of "the dictatorship of proletariat" has a critical fundamental flow. The concept of "dictatorship" has historically justified the tyranny (the Asian model in Soviet case). Tyranny whirls the humanity back into slavery masquerading it with the Hippocratic demagogy of a progressive language its true intent of conquest over the world. Yes; not only in one country but over the world. Courageous and talented writer Eugenia Ginsburg delivers her experiences in emotional form but without personal anger. I have different reaction when reading Journey into the Whirlwind. I see "the utopian dreamers" being the unwilling contributors to the drama created by the totalitarian dictatorships; despite its use of progressive language.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Descent into MadnessBy MoonfishOver the last few days Eugenia Ginzburg's autobiography 'Journey into the Whirlwind' has been a constant companion. Her book is one of the more well known biographies describing the insanity of the Stalin era as it follows her descent into a bureaucratic and inhumane machine of torture and imprisonment seemingly designed to devour the strength and humanity of an individual's existence. She starts out as a devoted journalist; communist; spouse and mother of two small children that innocently becomes accused of political crimes. She was arrested in 1937. From a modern perspective the situation is Kafkaesque in its surreal embrace. However; as the pages and hours pass Ginzburg's voice describes a dizzying array of psychological and physical horror ranging from her interrogation; isolation and transfer to the Gulag; where the book abruptly ends. It is a painting of inferno and human misery although the glow of hope glimmers constantly through the memories she evokes. Her humanity shines through every page as she describes the life she is forced to endure. There are numerous moments that are luminous in allowing us to appreciate the simple things in life. Ginzburg's love of poetry and literature in general permeates her memoirs as it is one of the strengths that lifts her above the situation she is immersed in and allows her to keep struggling through the ruthless inferno.I felt such an injustice in my heart that this woman had to be dealt such a fate. The horror is of course that millions of innocent people endured similar experiences as the ones Ginzburg describe. Beyond the human qualities in Ginzburg's writing a sense to explore the time of the Gulag is awakened. Ginzburg did indeed write a second part to her autobiography ("In the Whirlwind") that I am looking forward to read within the next few weeks. Of course; Solzhenitsyn's "The First Circle" and "The Gulag Archipelago" beckon in conjunction with Applebaum's study 'Gulag'. The book was not translated into English until 1975; and is currently out of print in the UK. I am surprised that such a work has not received greater attention. Ginzburg's memoirs certainly makes one appreciate living in peace although it also makes one realize that such 'peace' cannot be taken for granted. Her voice and character lingers in my mind. Highly recommended!
