Indeed; the story of General Price -- as this account by Albert Castle shows -- is the story; in large part; of the Confederacy's struggle in the West. The author draws a fascinating portrait of Price the man -- vain; courageous; addicted to secrecy -- and produces insightful interpretations and much pertinent information about the Civil War in the West.
#1572600 in Books 2013-09-03 2013-09-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.01 x .78 x 6.06l; .90 #File Name: 0807069094272 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. From the horses mouthBy PlatoFromTexasExcellent collection of portions of the narratives of black men and women who spent much of their lives asslaves in the south. Much of it is available for free on the internet but I may never have bothered reading them unless the authors had concisely included them as a selected collection in this book. The yearning and cry of the soul for freedom is so unmistakeable in these writings. The suffering that they experienced is deeply saddening. I am especially amazed at the eloquence of the writers and how they are able to put to pen their thoughts with such power. Their life story tugs at the heart and makes one sensitive to seeing people around us suffer injustice. It is terrible to consider that people of that time could rest easy knowing that they authored the destructive enslavement and tribulations of individuals for the sake of their wallet; ego; and for the comforts of their own family. Makes me wonder how often people living in the big cities of the south today take a moment to consider what sort of nightmare that slavery has imprinted on the history of their city and region.One chapter though that did bring me back to the reality of human nature is that of "The Confessions of Nat Turner". The monster that is within; if given free reign; can abuse us and others regardless of how low or high our estate may be. We do best to keep this monster under check.This book has motivated me to re-read more of American history from the perspective of personal human events rather than just an impersonal political or economic horizon. The brief foreward and afterward were also insightful in painting a picture of what was happening among the different colonial states with regards to slavery. Also; the book is written at a level of English that I think should make it accessible and encouraged reading for high schoolers and college students. All Americans need to be knowledgeable not only in the bright spots of America's past but also in its dark institutions such as slavery. Obtaining such a balanced outlook will give the reader greater sensitivity and respect for our fellow humans with whom we share this journey of life.2 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Confronts the ways in which history is revised to downplay the horrors of slaveryBy Mary Lavers (in Canada)"I had as well be killed running as die standing." -Frederick DouglassThe slave narratives contained in this collection cause me to marvel that; at the end of slavery; no one was held accountable for crimes against humanity; that the champions of slavery are not now reviled with the same collective embarrassment directed at the Nazis of WWII. When a member of the Royal family dressed as a Nazi for Halloween it caused an international stir (and rightly so; that was disgraceful); yet people routinely dress in Confederate uniforms as part of Civil War and antebellum re-enactments; proclaiming the glory of the South; and we are asked to collectively pretend that they are not also glorifying the days of the atrocities of slavery. Where is the collective sense of deep shame?The Long Walk to Freedom confronts the ways in which history is revised to downplay the horrors of slavery. It's one thing to claim that one generation cannot be held accountable for the sins of a previous generation (fair enough); but it is quite another to routinely hear the glorification of that generation; to speak of the founding fathers as practically infallible; to long for the days of the "Old South" without acknowledging that the society and culture of slavery-era North America was deeply broken. It allowed for the torture and enslavement of an entire group of people whose stories simply cannot be "wished away" or excised from our history.The first hand accounts of runaway slaves in this volume are particularly gripping and vivid; as they refuse to allow us the comfort of imagining that slavery was "not that bad;" or that most slaves were happy to serve their amiable masters like loyal members of the family. These stories are not the fiction of Mamie from Gone With the Wind. They are the reality of Frederick Douglass; Nat Turner; and many others who endured the inhumanity of slavery and never stopped longing for freedom.For more reviews please visit my blog; Cozy Little Book Journal.Disclaimer: I received a digital galley of this book free from Edelweiss (Above the Tree Line). I was asked to write an honest review; though not necessarily a favourable one. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. SoberingBy Alfred ItchcockThese are the kind of books that should be required reading to ensure things like this never happen again. Gives a good variety of different first-hand accounts from slaves. The slave-owners were not the only ones responsible for this reprehensible reality. Everyone in the South had a hand in making sure the slaves stayed in the possession of their masters.
