Customer Reviews

The Waterman's Song: Slavery and Freedom in Maritime North Carolina

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This is the best book about slavery I have ever read. Cecelski is one of the most eloquent historians writing today. Because he focuses on the shifting shoreline (literal and figurative) between slavery and freedom, this book uncovers fascinating insights about the ways African Americans navigated the treacherous shoals of slavery, Emancipation, and Reconstruction. Although he does not slight the horrors of slavery--read the chapter on canal digging--Cecelski shows how African Americans used their skills and understanding to best advantage, and how they created a vibrant culture of homegrown abolitionism and helped win the Civil War in eastern North Carolina, too. The research is incredible and the writing is beautiful. The author's mastery as a storyteller shines best in his tale of Abraham Galloway, the runaway slave, Union spy, state legislator, and daring rebel whose unbridled life defies every conventional wisdom about slavery and Reconstruction--this chapter should be a Hollywood movie. I cannot recommend a history book more highly than this one.

Definitely worth your time if you are interested in a new perspective on slavery (or perhaps just something in maritime history).