Customer Reviews

The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion

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Nat Turner led the largest slave rebellion in American history. That is an indisputable fact. Unfortunately, not much else is known about the life of this legendary figure. Why did he do what he did? How was he able to do it? What was it about the man that made people follow him into insurrection? In his book, "The Fires Of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion", author Stephen B. Oates attempts to answer these questions. Oates clearly did extensive research on his subject. He manages to unearth many new facts about Nat Turner that were previously unknown. Oates presents a vivid picture of what Nat Turner's life must have been like as a slave. He presents enough facts about Nat Turner to give the reader the beginnings of an idea of what motivated the man. He describes in detail the visions that Nat claimed to have had and the formations of the planned rebellion. Then, once the rebellion starts, Oates gives a moment by moment account. As I read it I found myself picturing what it must have looked and sounded like as it was happening. I felt real tension. Unfortunately, many facts about Nat Turner will simply never be known. The historical records just don't exist. Despite this, Stephen B. Oates has crafted an extraordinary biography. His work has brought us closer than ever to understanding who Nat Turner was and what he did.

I read this book as part of my supplemental reading for college. I must admit that I really had no interest in reading it, but as soon as I started reading the 'foreword', I was hooked. The story of Nat Turner, as seen through the eyes of Stephen Oates, is absolutely riveting. I ended up reading the book in less than 3 days, as I just didn't want to put it down. Stephen Oates has a way of writing that transforms the reader into the actual rebellion and allows one to see and feel the circumstances before, during and after the Nat Turner insurrection and the consequences of it to the South. I highly recommend the book to anyone who has any interest in American history and I'm sure that others will enjoy being transported back into time, as I did.

One cannot understand the history of the South without reading this book. This is the story of the beginning of the end of slavery in America.

I had to buy this book for one of my college History classes. The book is very informative, sad, and eye opening. I highly recommend reading it. The history in the book really gets you thinking.

It is a very graphic book. It decribes all events very well, not boring at all.

This book was absolutly amazing. I was assigned this book for a report in HIST I. I have now read it and listened to it probably 10 times. you really can feel the pain that Turner felt, as well as the rightousness in killing these people. I am a person that does not believe in violence, but this book made me understand how a man or woman could be driven to such dire circumstances. This book should as graphic as it is should also be given to all High School students. It really show that when backed into a corner, that people can do things that are truly unthinkable. Maybe bullying could be affected in positive way, by this work!

I thought that this book (Kindle format) was an excellent account of the event. The author's narrative style made it an easy read despite it's complicated topic. The author's use of detail combined with concise analysis also was impressive. It was also even-handed in its approach to the topic of Turner's rebellion as well as the institution of slavery. I completely agree with an earlier reviewer of this book - if you want to understand the 19th century South, and the Civil War, and the current day South, this book should be read. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this event and Southern history. Finally, the details of the events are sickening and disturbing, and we owe much thanks to the author for telling this story, as this history should not be repeated.

Nat Turner believed he was inspired by God to lead the slaves out of bondage through violent upheavel. He drew on such passages of the Bible as Ezekiel in the Old Testament to justify the killing of men, women and children. In August, 1831, Nat's insurgents went on a nightly rampage from farm to farm in Southampton County, Virginia, killing approximately 60 whites, with axes and other weapons, even beheading children. The insurgency was quelled not long thereafter by federal troops and state militia. In addition, white vigilantes responded by torturing, burning, and killing blacks. At least 120 of those killed were innocent blacks.

Nat Turner did, however, choose to spare the lives of somes whites, including the slave-owning family of his childhood playmate, John Clark Turner, as well as a poor white family whom he identified with the downtrodden. Further, Nat abstained from the use of alcohol and would become infuriated whenever his followers got drunk. Nat also forbade his followers from engaging in raping.

Nat believed he was doing God's will in revolting violently against slavery, preaching to his followers the biblical passage that the first shall be last and the last first. He remained unrepentent to the end, through his trial and up to the time of his hanging.

Some southern whites chose to blame Nat's actions on the influence of religious preachers and abolitionists, rather than focusing on the evils of slavery. There never was another slave rebellion of the ferocity and magnitude of Nat's rebellion. Professor Oates goes on to explain the legacy of Nat Turner's rebellion and the ramifications it had on a wider scale as the war between the states loomed in the not too distant future.

This narrative can make the hair on one's neck stand up straight, while educating the reader on the evils of slavery.

This is my first experience buying online books and it will not be the last one. The book came in good conditions. Without scharts, nothing writing in it, and it was like new!

This book was absolutly amazing. I was assigned this book for a report in HIST I. I have now read it and listened to it probably 10 times. you really can feel the pain that Turner felt, as well as the rightousness in killing these people. I am a person that does not believe in violence, but this book made me understand how a man or woman could be driven to such dire circumstances. This book should as graphic as it is should also be given to all High School students. It really show that when backed into a corner, that people can do things that are truly unthinkable. Maybe bullying could be affected in positive way, by this work!