Synopses & Reviews
A unique account of the most successful slave rebellion in American history, now updated with a new epiloguefrom the award-winning author of The Slave Ship In this powerful and highly original account, Marcus Rediker reclaims the Amistad rebellion for its true proponents: the enslaved Africans who risked death to stake a claim for freedom. Using newly discovered evidence and featuring vividly drawn portraits of the rebels, their captors, and their abolitionist allies, Rediker reframes the story to show how a small group of courageous men fought and won an epic battle against Spanish and American slaveholders and their governments. The successful Amistad rebellion changed the very nature of the struggle against slavery. As a handful of self-emancipated Africans steered their own course for freedom, they opened a way for millions to follow.
This edition includes a new epilogue about the author's trip to Sierra Leona to search for Lomboko, the slave-trading factory where the Amistad Africans were incarcerated, and other relics and connections to the Amistad rebellion, especially living local memory of the uprising and the people who made it.
Review
“Gripping...Superb...As Marcus Redikers new book reminds us, the place of the [Amistad] rebellion in popular memory hasnt always been secure.”--The Nation
Review
“The great strength of this work—aside from redikers vivd style as a writer and meticulous research—is that he brings the Amistad Africans back to center stage where they have often been pushed to the side.”—
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteReview
Vividly drawn…this stunning book honors the achievement of the captive Africans who fought for—and won—their freedom.”—
The Philadelphia TribuneReview
“Spectacularly researched and fluidly composed, this latest study offers some much needed perspective on a critical yet often overlooked event in Americas history.”--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Review
"A totally enthralling account of the Amistad rebellion and its place in the broader American story of revolt against a great threat to liberty."--Booklist (starred review)
Review
"A first-rate example of history told from the bottom up."--
Kirkus (starred review)
Review
"Rediker takes a fresh approach to the Amistad rebellion by focusing on the Africans who revolted rather than on the American political and judicial response, which takes the central place in most previous works."--Library Journal
Review
and#8220;Gripping...Superb...As Marcus Redikerand#8217;s new book reminds us, the place of the [Amistad] rebellion in popular memory hasnand#8217;t always been secure.and#8221;--The Nation and#160;
Review
and#8220;The great strength of this workand#8212;aside from redikerand#8217;s vivd style as a writer and meticulous researchand#8212;is that he brings the Amistad Africans back to center stage where they have often been pushed to the side.and#8221;and#8212;
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteReview
Vividly drawnand#8230;this stunning book honors the achievement of the captive Africans who fought forand#8212;and wonand#8212;their freedom.and#8221;and#8212;
The Philadelphia TribuneReview
and#8220;Spectacularly researched and fluidly composed, this latest study offers some much needed perspective on a critical yet often overlooked event in Americaand#8217;s history.and#8221;--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Synopsis
"Vividly drawn . . . this stunning book honors the achievement of the captive Africans who fought for--and won--their freedom."
--The Philadelphia Tribune A unique account of the most successful slave rebellion in American history, now updated with a new epilogue--from the award-winning author of The Slave Ship
In this powerful and highly original account, Marcus Rediker reclaims the Amistad rebellion for its true proponents: the enslaved Africans who risked death to stake a claim for freedom. Using newly discovered evidence and featuring vividly drawn portraits of the rebels, their captors, and their abolitionist allies, Rediker reframes the story to show how a small group of courageous men fought and won an epic battle against Spanish and American slaveholders and their governments. The successful Amistad rebellion changed the very nature of the struggle against slavery. As a handful of self-emancipated Africans steered their own course for freedom, they opened a way for millions to follow.
This edition includes a new epilogue about the author's trip to Sierra Leona to search for Lomboko, the slave-trading factory where the Amistad Africans were incarcerated, and other relics and connections to the Amistad rebellion, especially living local memory of the uprising and the people who made it.
About the Author
Marcus Rediker is the Distinguished Professor of Atlantic History at the University of Pittsburgh and the award-winning author of The Slave Ship. He lives in Pittsburgh.