The Hanging of Arthur Hodge [Paperback]

John Andrew (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000

THE HANGING OF ARTHUR HODGE-A CARIBBEAN ANTI-SLAVERY MILESTONE recounts life in the British Virgin Islands during slavery, the hanging of a master for murdering one of his own slaves and its impact on the movement which resulted in the freeing of slaves throughout the British Empire in 1838.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Andrew graduated with honors in history from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and was the recipient of a Lowden-Wigmore Prize for Legal Writing at Northwestern School of Law. Research for this book has taken him to libraries in the U.S., the West Indies, England and Scotland.

Product Details

• Paperback: 244 pages
• Publisher: Xlibris; 1 edition (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 073881931X
• ISBN-13: 978-0738819310
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,060,677 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Abolition of Slavery in the West Indies, July 24, 2001

By 

Don Dachner (Dixon, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hanging of Arthur Hodge (Paperback)

The trial of Arthur Hodge for murdering one of his slaves began on the Caribbean island of Tortola at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 29, 1811. The proceedings went on continuously until 5:00 a.m. on April 30. The jury deliberated until 8:00 a.m. on that same day and returned a verdict of guilty. Arthur Hodge was hanged two days later. This trial was used in England as a significant reference to bring about the abolition of slavery in the West Indies. This book portrays in vivid detail the lifestyle of plantation owners like Hodge and the slaves of that era, as well as the abuses that Hodge and other plantation owners made their "property" (the slaves) suffer. John Andrews is to be commended for his professional presentation that makes this book an excellent resource for researchers as well as a good read for those wishing to be informed of the slave trade era.

4.0 out of 5 stars A tragic story, engagingly narrated and analysed, September 26, 2011

By 

BVI Diver "BVI Diver" (British Virgin Islands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hanging of Arthur Hodge (Paperback)

John Andrew's summary of the tragic events that led to the hanging of Arthur Hodge is well narrated, and maintains a brisk pace. Like all truly poignant narratives, the fact that the story is true lends a deep sense of sorrow that transports the reader beyond the words on the page.

Although the execution of Arthur Hodge for beating his slave to death (reportedly just one of the many that he murdered) is held up as a bulwark of resistance against slavery, Mr Andrews does an excellent job of peeling back the layers behind the story, asking the difficult questions: if everyone was so appalled by what Hodge did, why did it take 3 years for the matter to come to trial, but then only 3 days for him to be executed? Why did the jury affirm that Hodge had no estates (knowing that to be untrue) allowing his son to inherit, rather than it being forfeit to the Crown when he was condemned? The answers, Mr Andrews convincingly argues, has a lot more to do with settling petty squabbles in a colonial outpost against a man with a fierce temper who was known to be an excellent pistol shot and duellist, than any liberal views about the treatment of slaves.

The early colonial administrators may not appear the liberal minded heros that they are sometimes otherwise portrayed as, but clearly there were men and women, white and black, who acted with great courage in the trial. None of that is lost in Mr Andrew's book, nor is the sheer brutality of Hodge's conduct which led to his eventual death.

If there is a criticism of this book, it is where Mr Andrew's knowledge of BVI geography lets him down. When he tries to extrapolate historical records to modern locations, he sometimes comes unglued. But it is a small error, easily forgiven in an otherwise excellent book.

4.0 out of 5 stars A chilling look at slavery, May 11, 2011

By 

Harrison - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hanging of Arthur Hodge (Paperback)

This book is not for the faint hearted, but it provides a facinating look at plantation life two hundred years ago. The terrible, lingering death of a slave named Prosper is at the emotional core of this story. The sadistic master, Hodge, is like a character from a lurid novel. His apalling cruelty is described in detail. Hodge was prosecuted by the British Government and eventually hanged. While most people probably know very little about this story it is clearly a major event in the history of the slave trade. Well researched and highly recommended.