Inhuman Traffick tells for the first time a story of enslavement and freedom that spans the entire Atlantic world. Beginning in 1829 off the west coast of Africa with the recapture of the slave ship Neirsée--previously seized by the British Navy in its efforts to suppress the "inhuman traffick"--and ending with the liberation of the African passengers who had been sold into slavery in the French Caribbean; Rafe Blaufarb puts a human face on the history of the transatlantic slave trade and the efforts to suppress it. He addresses a neglected aspect of this tragic history in the wide geographical and thematic contexts in which it took place--Africa; the Caribbean; Europe; and the Atlantic Ocean--and situates the story in familial; social; economic; diplomatic; and military spheres. Inhuman Traffick shows how history is done by explaining how the documents on which it is based moved through time and space from the ships; African outposts; colonial buildings; and ministerial offices to the archives of present-day Britain and France.Blaufarb follows the ship; its crew; and its captives from the slave port of Old Calabar to the Caribbean and into the courts of Britain and France; where the history of the illegal slave trade; slavery in the Caribbean; and diplomatic history all come into focus. Students will be taken in by the vivid drawings and the rich narrative; but in Blaufarb's skilled hands; they will also find themselves immersed in a unique learning experience. Blaufarb not only presents the history of the ship and its captives; he takes the reader inside the project itself. He explains how he came upon the story; how he and his editor envisioned the project; and how he worked with illustrator Liz Clarke to craft more than 300 "cells" that comprise Part II of the book. He and Clarke even take the reader inside archives in France and Britain.This powerful combination of historical essay; graphics; primary-source documents; and discussion questions gives students insight into the Atlantic World plantation complex; the transatlantic slave trade; and the process of historical storytelling itself.
#63313 in Books Peter Marshall 2009-11-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 4.30 x .50 x 6.80l; .32 #File Name: 0199231311168 pagesReformation A Very Short Introduction
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. superb concise history in a user friendly formatBy John E. DruryGrappling with the meaning of Mendelssohn's "Reformation" Symphony; and the composer's use of the well known Lutheran hymn "Ein Feste Burg;" in his powerful final movement; I came upon Peter Marshall's compact; enlightening book on the Reformation published in 2009 by Oxford University. Lucid; thoughtful; wide ranging; at times even wry; this is a modern; even-handed dissection of the sixteenth century beginnings of the Protestant faith which explains the Catholic counter reformation as well. Marshall is a superb writer - well equipped for these short succinct history treatises - who packs his tight sentences with meaning; never wandering on incidentals while moving through his points effortlessly. He ends; eschewing overstatement; with this compelling thought: the Reformation advanced the meaning and purpose of human existence; enhanced the mutual obligations of people in a society and exposed "the balance of conscience and political obedience" in a rational society. I look forward to reading more of these short histories by the Oxford University Press.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Another excellent entry in this seriesBy Hal JordanInteresting; well-written introduction to the Reformation. Marshall covers a lot of ground and does so in a way that's easy to follow and informative.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Timely subject matter for the lay reader.By Terry MyersPeter Marshall's book is a straight forward examination of the Reformation. Considering it's the Anniversary of the Reformation; this might be a book you might want to read.
