If you were black in America at the start of the Revolutionary War; which side would you want to win? When the last British governor of Virginia declared that any rebel-owned slave who escaped and served the king would be emancipated; tens of thousands of slaves fled from farms; plantations; and cities to try to reach the British camp. A military strategy originally designed to break the plantations of the American South had unleashed one of the great exoduses in U.S. history. With powerfully vivid storytelling; Schama details the odyssey of the escaped blacks through the fires of war and the terror of potential recapture; shedding light on an extraordinary; little-known chapter in the dark saga of American slavery.
#625167 in Books 2007-05-29 2007-05-29Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.69 x 6.00l; #File Name: 0060523786844 pages
Review
290 of 306 people found the following review helpful. Important scholarship marred by a greater commitment to political correctness than to accuracy.By John AaronFirst; in the interest of full disclosure; let me state my views on translation.A translator's job is to translate. Not to improve. Not to bring in accordance with current ideas; values; or prejudices. Not to make choppy style clean. Not to make complex ideas (apparently) simple. A translator's job is to present a text as accurately as possible in the target language. I realize that there are other approaches to translation - but this is the one that I feel best serves both the original author and the reader.This is not an approach taken by the Late Dr. Meyer in this translation.It is clear from the introduction - and on every following page - that Dr. Meyer's primary commitment was to making the Nag Hammadi library palatable to modern readers - rather than presenting the text accurately.This is demonstrated throughout - and; to give credit; and least Dr. Meyer and the other translators make no excuses for their choices. They make it clear that they have consistently changed the meaning of the text to make the language fit current ideas.He says; very directly; "We have given special attention to issues of gender in our translations; and we employ inclusive language where the spirit of the Coptic text recommends it and where it does not compromise the accuracy of the translations."The spirit of the Coptic text? I'm not clear that Dr. Meyer - or anyone else; for that matter - was qualified to make that determination. His job - and that of the other translators - is to communicate what the text says. Not what they may believe the spirit recommends. And I can only disagree with Dr. Meyer that his changes do not compromise the accuracy of the translations. Putting in something that isn't there; based on a sense of the "spirit" of a text is; by definition compromising accuracy.When the text says "Son of Man" that should not - in my view - be mistranslated as "Child of Humanity." When the text says "Father;" that should not become "Parent." When the text says; "He;" that should not be transformed into "It."The text says what it says. It's the job of the translators to present that. Modern values may - or may not - be more advanced. But those ideas are not what's in the text. And - as a reader - I want to see what is there. Not what the Late Dr. Meyer and his colleagues felt should be there.In addition; the annotation adds very little value. To give credit - again - where deserved - many notes to mention that the translators have changed the clear meaning of the text. But; too often; the notes are simply Dr. Meyer's digressions on other similar mythologies which may or may not have any relevance to the text.Like another reviewer; I look forward to a digitized version of the original; 1977 translation. That translation is not without challenges - it's harder to read; and significantly less clear in many places. But; since it was published before Gnosticism became hip - and profitable - the original translation demonstrates a clear and consistent commitment to the text. I wish that were also the case with this important - but deeply flawed - work.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Enrich your understanding of early Christianity.By John M. Mac DonaldExcellent book; Somewhat challenging to read some documents but worth the effort. Provides an intersting insight to the dynamics of early Christianity and their understanding of the Christ event. Recommend using with Lost Christianties. Both books help provide a broad understanding of Gnostic Christian thought. An excellent complimentary tool to use when studing the canonical scriptures. Helpful to be in a study group when using these books.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. For Greater Understanding of the Gnostic Gospels.By Mama CassThe late great Marvin Meyer was my go-to guy for all things scriptures. I bought one for our home and enjoyed it so much; bought for a friend as well. This is the most complete volume of Gnostic manuscripts including the Gospel of Mary as well as other Gnostic gospels and sacred texts. This volume also includes notes; tables; glossary; index; etc. for further study and understanding. Incredibly thick and over 850 pages of fascinating information written in everyday language for easier comprehension.
