Making Freedom: The Extraordinary Life of Venture Smith (Garnet Books) [Hardcover]

Chandler B. Saint (Author), George A. Krimsky (Author), James O. Horton (Contributor)

Book Description

Series: Garnet Books | Publication Date: February 26, 2009

Making Freedom is the first in-depth exploration of the life of Venture Smith (1728-1805), a New England slave who was sold into bondage as a boy in Africa and labored for nearly a quarter-century before purchasing his own freedom and transforming himself into a highly respected American citizen. Drawing on years of research and documentation, including Venture Smith's rare personal autobiography, Saint and Krimsky vividly recount the extraordinary challenges he overcame. They cast a rare light on what it was like to be an African American in the north during the Colonial era. This story's relevance today prompted the BBC to produce a documentary on scholars' efforts to learn more about Venture Smith, his life, and family. The book includes a wealth of illustrations, a timeline, and Smith's original 1798 narrative in facsimile form.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Born to a noble African family, Venture Smith was captured and sold into slavery. Purchased by a wealthy family in New England, Smith immediately began to work to better his lot. He survived turbulent pre-Revolutionary New England and earned freedom for himself and his growing family. He went on to prosper in a tragically unjust time, and his detailed memoirs, recorded by a schoolteacher (he never learned to write) provide a surprisingly in-depth look at an often glossed-over part of American history, slavery in the North. In this book, historian Saint and journalist Krimsky go through the original 32-page memoir, commissioned by Smith in old age, providing a meticulously researched account of the man and his times. History buffs will be fascinated, particularly American history nuts far more familiar with stories of Southern slavery. Though it may leave readers wishing for more, Saint and Krimsky's brief, accessible history ends with a rich collection of research material, including a reproduction of Smith's original manuscript.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"The story of Venture Smith's life is not only extraordinary but is one of the most improbable biographies of American history. This fascinating and highly readable book will allow many readers to view the complexity of American slavery and race relations."David Brion Davis, author of Inhuman Bondage: The Rise and Fall of Slavery in the New World (David Brion Davis, author of Inhuman Bondage: The Rise and Fall of Slavery in the New World )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 204 pages
• Publisher: Wesleyan; First Edition edition (February 26, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0819568546
• ISBN-13: 978-0819568540
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,276 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Books > Travel > United States > Regions > Northeast

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Venture Smith is an interesting man, July 13, 2009

By 

Concord - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making Freedom: The Extraordinary Life of Venture Smith (Garnet Books) (Hardcover)

Venture Smith, the subject of this biography, is just plain fascinating. The inclusion of the full text of his very early 1800s autobiography makes the book, but the editor's lengthy introduction is also well done and very approachable. The press is to be commended on the lavish illustrations. We can approach this as essential African-American history, but I suspect that many will find that his life story, showing as it does in his own words, the after-effects of traumatic events, captivating in and of itself regardless of race. The book is memorable, because Venture Smith has a personality and then some. This is a good quick read that will stay with you.

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended as a worthy addition to American biography shelves, April 13, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making Freedom: The Extraordinary Life of Venture Smith (Garnet Books) (Hardcover)

Making Friendship: The Extraordinary Life of Venture Smith is an amazing, in-depth biography of Venture Smith (1728-1805), a New England slave sold into slavery as a boy in Africa who worked for a quarter century, then purchased his own freedom and became a respectable and noted American citizen. Meticulously reconstructing Smith's life from years of research and documentation, Making Friendship stretches beyond Smith's life to touch upon the lives of his descendants. Smith's own 1978 narrative is also included in facsimile form, as are a proliferation of black-and-white photographs and illustrations. Highly recommended as a worthy addition to American biography shelves.