Customer Reviews

Searching for Jim: Slavery in Sam Clemens's World (MARK TWAIN & HIS CIRCLE)

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People who conduct their own research of whatever topics will enjoy Dempsey's work. The book is not only an account of Dempsey's journey from reflections on a common community experience to delving into court records and newspaper archives, but it also frames new awareness and truths that speak to us today. This book is an intelligent look at the contribution and social positioning of Black slaves living in Hannibal during the time of Samuel Clemens' youth. The book reveals the culture that set the scene for Clemens' development. Dempsey shows how as a thinking man, Clemens developed an awareness of the cruelty of slavery and how White society could or could not respond to that reality. The author also challenges our behavior and thinking today.

Based on broad and in-depth fresh research, Searching for Jim is readable account of 19th century Hannibal and how that history has impacted political decisions made in recent times. No one will be unchanged in their perspectives and/or knowledge after reading this book.

This is a remarkable and fascinating history of my native state. I will never again think about our past here in the same way. Mr. Dempsey is correct, there is a perception that slavery here was a "better" kind. That is dispelled by this marvelous work which covers so many aspects of that peculiar institution. That examination is done in the most meticulous of historical manner by looking at legal and church documents, newspapers and diaries. Excellent research.

There is no doubt in my mind that the attitudes and values of that pre-1860's society live on. I don't know from other readings, but one does sense that the special situation that Missouri was thrust into in the 1850's, made the cross currents of history here even more violent.

For much of the book, the Clemens family are merely the springboard for a thorough examination of all aspects of the slavery issue in northeast Missouri. It's a creative filter to see how pervasive the institution was. It causes me, the reader, to now want to return to Twain's later writings and read them again with a new perspective.

I can't recommend this work enough!