audiobook The Underground Railroad: A Record of Facts; Authentic Narratives; Letters; C.; Narrating the Hardships; Hair-Breadth Escapes and Death Struggl by William Still in History

Review

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. An Invaluable and absolutely authentic Source on the Underground Railroad written by a major participant.By Christopher DensmoreThis is the most valuable and most authentic primary resource on the Underground Railroad. The author; William Still; an African-America was the primary figure in directing the Underground Railroad in Philadelphia in the 1850s. Fugitives from enslavement; also called Freedom Seekers; crossing into Pennsylvania from Adams County; Pennsylvania; in the west to Chester; Delaware and Philadelphia counties in the east were directed to Still in Philadelphia. Still would then send these "self-emancipated" people onward; usually; though not always; to Canada by way of what is now Niagara Falls. Still kept a written record of people who passed though Philadelphia; recording their names; names of their owners; the place were they had been enslaved; the specific reasons they were trying to escape (often to avoid families being separated by sale); and where they were sent. In 1872; he compiled these accounts into this volume. This is not an overview of the Underground Railroad; but hundreds of individual accounts; some quite short and others more extended. There is no plot to the book; other than the motivation of people to free themselves and how they went about doing it. One of the reasons Still was interested in recording names was so that families could reunite if an when they managed to escape north or slavery would end. Still himself had two brothers who were kidnapped from New Jersey and sold into slavery. One of these showed up in Still's office at the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society. They didn't recognize one another by sight; as Still had been quite young when his brothers were kidnapped; and many years had passed since that time; but as Still was questioning him; and they compared stories; they discovered that they were long-lost brothers. The other brother never escaped.8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. This book is very exciting book about fugitive slaves and the abolitionists that helped them find freedom.By Rosabel TamezI loved this book because it was filled with heart-pounding action; suspense; successful escapes and some sad captures of runaway slaves. It was everything I expected and more; but was a very long book. I was surprised to learn that slavery existed in Maryland; Delaware and the District of Columbia. The sacrifices made by the abolitionists were so impressive. Many contributed enormously to the cause; some even lost everything they had; some even lost their lives. I could not help but admire such dedication and generosity. I recommend this book to anyone who is willing to read a very long book and who is interested in the history of slavery in the United States. It was an eye opener to me. I read about a medical doctor who had 5 children by his slave woman. Later; he married a white woman and sent his slave family to be sold on the auction block. Horrendous!!!!! This is what this book is full of.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Gives a Different PerspectiveBy karbieUsually the things we know about the Underground Railroad talk about Harriet Tubman or Levi Coffin. This contains actual letters from those who were helping the escapees and letters written by the rescued slaves themselves. Not all of them went to Canada; New York seemed popular as well. The escapees used the organization to send letters and messages back home. It tells of those who were caught trying to aid slaves in the South. Some of the hiding places worked because no one considered them-like a small niche next to the boiler on a steamship. After one enterprising slave had shipped himself to Pennsylvania; slaves started being referred to as packages and boxes in correspondence. Two large packages and a small one would be 2 adults and a child. After the Fugitive Slave Act was passed; those who helped slaves escape were risking losing everything they owned; including their lives. The fact that so many people were willing to do so to help free the escaped slaves. I was surprised at how far back anti-slavery sentiments ran--the Quakers were in the forefront; but Pennsylvania was not the first state to outlaw slavery. Some of the book is dry; but when it deals with the correspondence and descriptions of the conditions the passengers were fleeing it becomes very compelling.