Fiery Vision: The Life and Death of John Brown [Hardcover]

Clinton Cox (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1997

The story of abolitionist John Brown describes his dream of eliminating slavery from America and recounts his 1859 insurrection at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, where he and his band turned violent for the cause.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-10. In many U.S. History courses, John Brown is quickly glossed over in the buildup to the Civil War. Although his raid of Harpers Ferry is much discussed, the man himself is often summed up as a martyr, a madman, or a mystery. Cox has done away with some of that mystery in this thorough and clearly written biography. Tracing his subject's abolitionism (and fanaticism) back to its earliest roots, the author gives readers a picture of Brown as a loving family man and a not-too-successful businessman. Some of the key events of the era are incorporated into the narrative, as are the personal stories of many slaves and fugitives. Within such a context, Brown's embracing of the cause of abolition seems quite reasonable and his devotion quite sane. Although the information leading up to the raid is lengthy, the coverage of the raid itself and Brown's well-publicized trial is relatively brief, which might disappoint some readers. The bibliography is excellent and the black-and-white reproductions greatly enhance the text. Like his book on Twain, Cox's enjoyable biography provides a good introduction for young adults.?Elizabeth M. Reardon, McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 7^-10. This long biography of the famous abolitionist who was hanged for the raid on the arsenal at Harper's Ferry is filled with quotes from eyewitnesses and scrupulously detailed accounts of events. In fact, there's almost too much chronological detail here, and the drama is sometimes overwhelmed with particulars. Most YA readers would prefer a more general discussion of the issues, more analysis of the historical importance of the man and his cause, rather than the minutiae of almost every journey he ever took. Where the particulars are powerful, however, is in the accounts of slavery (especially the horror of enforced family separation); in the arguments for and against violent resistance; and in the planning, execution, failure, and lasting importance of the raid. "They could kill him, but they could not answer him," Frederick Douglass said, and Cox shows how Brown's action brought an end to compromise on slavery and helped bring about the Civil War. Bibliography. Hazel Rochman

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic; 1St Edition edition (April 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590475746
• ISBN-13: 978-0590475747
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,375,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding Biography on a Most Misunderstood Man, March 23, 1998

By 

Kcoruol (Florence, SC USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Fiery Vision: The Life and Death of John Brown (Hardcover)

From this book you will read about the life and times in which John Brown lived in as well as a time when people of the black race were subjugated to a life of slavery. John Brown's religious convictions as well as his belief in the constitution enflamed his desire to fight the tyranny of slavery and as a result could be considered the catalyst for the Civil War. This book was well written yet easy to read. If you have read this book or have an interest in this subject I would also recommend the book "Cloud Splitter"

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars American revolutionary: a man only slightly ahead of his time, December 18, 2007

By 

Hinkle Goldfarb (R.R. 1 Highway 162, Butte City, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fiery Vision: The Life and Death of John Brown (Hardcover)

This book does an excellent job of tracing not only John Brown's travels through Harper's Ferry, but also the genesis of his abolitionism. Fanatic yes, but he was a fanatic on the right side of history.

Also, there's no indication that Mr. Brown was a horse thief or a megalomaniac, although he did declare bankruptcy and did desire to lead, with the approval of freed blacks, a provisional territory until slavery had been eliminated from the south.

Apologists for the Confederacy, like Steve Quick in his review of Penn's book on John Brown, should remember two words that destroy any moral argument they might muster in support of the antebellum South, and against the actions of John Brown, and later the Union. The first word, obviously, is "slavery." It is unjustifiable, and any attempts to do so are disgraceful. The second word is "Andersonville." The inhumane treatment Union soldiers received at the hands of the Confederates should never be forgotten.