First published in 1898; this comprehensive history was the first documented survey of a system that helped fugitive slaves escape from areas in the antebellum South to regions as far north as Canada. Comprising fifty years of research; the text includes interviews and excerpts from diaries; letters; biographies; memoirs; speeches; and a large number of other firsthand accounts. Together; they shed much light on the origins of a system that provided aid to runaway slaves; including the degree of formal organization within the movement; methods of procedure; geographical range; leadership roles; the effectiveness of Canadian settlements; and the attitudes of courts and communities toward former slaves.In his introduction to Professor Siebert's book; historian Albert Bushnell Hart lauds the author for having "rescued and put on record events which in a few years will have ceased to be in the memory of living men. [Siebert] has done for the history of slavery what the students of ballad and folk-lore have done for literature; he has collected perishing materials."Invaluable for its unbiased; literate treatment; this carefully researched study will be an excellent resource for instructors and students of African-American history; and engrossing literature for readers interested in the plight of fugitive slaves in the pre-Civil War era.
#2165188 in Books 2000-05-15 2000-05-15Format: UnabridgedOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.36 x 8.18 x 11.00l; 3.23 #File Name: 0486411338560 pages
Review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. A GEM OF A BOOK FOR LOVERS OF WORKS ON TRAVEL AND EXPLORATIONBy Paul I. Dukel Jr.For those who are fascinated by reading and collecting reprints of books on travel and exploration one can do no better than purchasing and reading this book. As we know the originals are either unobtainable or super expensive when available. And as the reader may well know most of the reprints of this type work are of poor or better said; horrible quality; they rarely include the drawings and maps etc. of the original for instance. Let it be known that this Dover edition is an exception. In my experience Dover always does a good job; I wish they would reprint more. With the exception of some books reprinted by universities the only other publisher that does comparable work is Elibron; {Adamant Media Corp.}. If the reader of this review knows of any others; Please let me know thru reviewer comment.This edition is massive; lavish with excellent drawings including two large color plates; interesting; full of information pertinent to our current relations with Japan and a good read in general. It is written in a smooth style. Of course the intelligent reader must realize it was written in an age of overt American imperialism; arrogance and sense of superiority to Eastern cultures. But I think this makes it all the more interesting; we can somewhat capture the "mindset" of the average educated American of mid-19th Cent. But it also demonstrates the innate sense of fairness in the average U.S military officer of this period; including Commodore Perry himself and the rest of the fleet's officers; the majority were well educated and honorable men; most of whom made an attempt to understand the stress the Japanese officials whom they had to deal with were under and accordingly played fairly. Also this book illustrates the amazing curiosity of the Japanese whom wanted the Americans to show them how things "worked" and operated; displaying their latent genius which had been stifled so long by the "Edicts". A must buy. Paul Dukel; Costa Rica4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Narrative of the Expedition to the China Seas and Japan; 1852-1854By Prudent SeniorThis book is an excellent reference book in studying present American diplomatic negotiation-way with foreign coutries pursuing only American national interests and in knowing that a most amazing advanced Edo's infrastructure and highest literacy rate in the world in spite of uncivilized conditions because of the Edicts of Seclusion and that there are some Japanese who were cultivated in Western scientic and technological knowledge and could speak and read English as well as Dutch in spite of the Edicts of Seclusion. MY surprise is also great to know a visit of the Commodore Perry fleet to Japan did not occure abruptly but it was announced to EdoGovernement throug Dutch factory in Dejima; Nagasaki.
