Cecelia was a fifteen-year-old slave when she accompanied her mistress; Frances "Fanny" Thruston Ballard; on a holiday trip to Niagara Falls. During their stay; Cecelia crossed the Niagara River and joined the free black population of Canada. Although documented relationships between freed or escaped slaves and their former owners are rare; the discovery of a cache of letters from the former slave owner to her escaped slave confirms this extraordinary link between two urban families over several decades.Cecelia and Fanny: The Remarkable Friendship between an Escaped Slave and Her Former Mistress is a fascinating look at race relations in mid-nineteenth-century Louisville; Kentucky; focusing on the experiences of these two families during the seismic social upheaval wrought by the emancipation of four million African Americans. Far more than the story of two families; Cecelia and Fanny delves into the history of Civil War–era Louisville. Author Brad Asher details the cultural roles assigned to the two women and provides a unique view of slavery in an urban context; as opposed to the rural plantations more often examined by historians.
#1071875 in Books 2014-09-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x .92 x 6.13l; .0 #File Name: 0813060540368 pages
Review
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. Engaging; readable; yet scholarlyBy Ross L. LamoreauxDaneil L. Schafer wrote a rarity in today's history field - an engaging; readable; yet scholarly book on a topic that has not been well covered in the Civil War field. I can add little that hasn't been said in the previous reviews; but will state that the breadth and scope of research combined many sources; from the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion to hard-to-find contemporary journals; diaries; and accounts; is quite impressive. I did find a bias toward the Unionist perspective with a focus on emancipation of African Americans; Union troop movements and actions; and a little less on the Confederate or southern perspective. This does not detract from the presentation of information; and I found myself learning even more about a topic that I had a good foundation on to begin with. Those who want only the southern perspective will not appreciate this book; but those who want to learn or increase their knowledge of the Civil War in northeast Florida should have this book on their shelves as required reading.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy cjtaylorgreat book5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Florida's Civil WarBy TylerA must-see for Civil War collectors! Not much is known on the campaigns that were done in Florida; except the foothold of Federal troops on Fort Pickens; despite the call for their surrender by Confederate military authorities. This book dives deep into the swamps of Florida; the multiple occupations of Jacksonville; and the famous battle fought in February; 1864 that was claimed as a Confederate victory. I believe the infamous African-American 54th Massachusetts Regiment was there after it's blood was shed at Battery Wagner in 1863. When I read the other reviews about this book; I KNEW I had to get this book! The reviews were all true and the book is simply awesome! Not to mention the delivery was very fast and brief.
