The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave (Barnes & Noble C: An American Slave (Barnes & Noble Classics)

Book Description

No book except perhaps Uncle Tom’s Cabin had as powerful an impact on the abolitionist movement as Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. But while Stowe wrote about imaginary characters, Douglass’s book is a record of his own remarkable life.

Born a slave in 1818 on a plantation in Maryland, Douglass taught himself to read and write. In 1845, seven years after escaping to the North, he published Narrative, the first of three autobiographies. This book calmly but dramatically recounts the horrors and the accomplishments of his early years—the daily, casual brutality of the white masters; his painful efforts to educate himself; his decision to find freedom or die; and his harrowing but successful escape.

An astonishing orator and a skillful writer, Douglass became a newspaper editor, a political activist, and an eloquent spokesperson for the civil rights of African Americans. He lived through the Civil War, the end of slavery, and the beginning of segregation. He was celebrated internationally as the leading black intellectual of his day, and his story still resonates in ours.

Customer Reviews:

GREAT BOOK.......2007-05-08

PUCHASED THIS BOOK FOR CLASS BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE A REAALY INTERESTING READ..

The Greatest Book of Slavery Ever Written!.......2006-10-21

This book helped me to see the freedoms that I now have. It also taught me to follow my dreams with all my heart. "Give me liberty or give me death" What a true blessing to read about this great man of GOD.

Worth Every Penny.......2006-08-31

I needed this book for an 11th grade summer assignment so I decided to purchase this version of the book. I loved how the price was good, and I loved the extra bits of information at the beginning of the book (like the timeline). I suggest anyone intrested in reading this book purchase this version...it definately was worth it!

A great read.......2006-07-10

"You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man." It is with acute insight and unyielding clarity that Douglass describes his feelings, experiences, and ultimate emancipation from slavery. The reader is taken into his mind - his doubts of ever being free, his fight with Mr. Covey, and his lost of hope.

I read an excerpt of this book with my students, and it is amazing how alive Douglass seems to them through his writing. The students enjoy learning about Frederick Douglass - and as such, they are given a glimpse into one of the most poignant stories in regards to the triumph of the human spirit.

"...valuable bread of knowledge." (pg. 44).......2006-07-09

First, I must mention that there are several editions of this book that have been published. I actually have two different editions but henceforth I will be referring to the Barnes & Noble Classic version with the Introduction by Robert O'Meally published in 2003. It is unlikely the other editions are better.

With timelines and detailed endnotes, Robert O'Meally, a Columbia University Professor, provides a scholarly introduction to Narrative, which all combine to create an excellent reference on Frederick Douglass.

One would make quick work in reading the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. It is not a lengthy autobiography which could be attributed to the fact that this is his first autobiography; it was written in 1845 when he was around 27 years of age. He later pens My Bondage, My Freedom (1855) and Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (1892).

In short, it is a must read for everyone! Frederick Douglass provides a first-hand account of the evils of slavery, unveiling its immorality for all to see. He writes clearly, descriptively and at times with emotion; appropriately so given the circumstances. From his attempts at identifying his father, to his encounters with his various masters and overseers, to his epiphany that "...rekindled the few expiring embers of freedom...", you will be a passenger on his journey to emancipation.

Upon learning how to read, Frederick Douglass stated, "The more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers." When reading this autobiography those same feelings will arise anew in you.

Sam Bell Maxey and the Confederate Indians (Civil War Campaigns and Commanders)

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The Forgotten Western Theater: An Intriguing Story
Sam Bell Maxey and the Confederate Indians

Sam Bell Maxey and the Confederate Indians (Civil War Campaigns and Commanders)
John, C. Waugh
Manufacturer: TX A&M-McWhiney Foundation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1886661030

Book Description

General Maxey, dignified, articulate, and confident, arrives in Indian Territory in 1863 to assume command of a diverse and motley army of Indians. The troops are in disarray; they are suspicious of tribal alliances, weakened from malnutrition, their crops have been pillaged, and they are discouraged by a series of battlefield setbacks at the hands of the Union Army invading from Kansas. Maxey calls upon all of his leadership and administrative skills and his insight into Indian culture to win the confidence and loyalty of these soldiers. Desperately he fights to secure badly needed munitions and provisions from the Confederate bureaucracy, which is focused on the plight of its eastern armies. All the while he struggles with his own field commander, the able and ambitious Douglas Cooper, friend of Jefferson Davis, who is eager to supplant him. Yet, Maxey perseveres and succeeds in molding this "army without infantry" into an effective fighting force that plays an important role in the Red River and Arkansas Campaigns and ultimately helps prevent a Union invasion of north Texas. A little known story, dramatically told by a distinguished author.

Customer Reviews:

The Forgotten Western Theater: An Intriguing Story.......2004-05-22

Having the good fortune of hearing John C. Waugh at the Austin Civil War Roundtable, I discovered this series "Civil War Campaigns and Commanders." They tend to be rather short, an evening's read...on less frequently treated topics that are quite intriguing. This volume tells the history of battles and participants in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the War of Northern Aggression, with an emphasis on the participation of the "civilized" Indian tribes, mostly located in Oklahoma (Indian Territory), their commanders, and the passing through western commands of many "failures" in eastern theatres of the war.

This book includes brief biographies (about 1.5 to two pages) of many interesting officers (Stand Watie, Sam Bell Maxey, Albert Pike, Douglas H. Cooper)--many who were born early in the 1800s, some West Point graduates prior to the beknighted Class of 1846 (which included Thomas J. Jackson), some of whom lived until late in the 19th century and saw America go from the ascendancy of the cotton gin to the Industrial Age!

With great accompanying photos, clear maps, and great storytelling, this book will leave you wanting to learn more about this rather neglected region of the war, but one no less important in many regards for the defining of the nation's future than the more well-known battlefields of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Highly recommended!!!!

Sam Bell Maxey and the Confederate Indians.......2002-01-30

A side of the civil war in the west that you don't hear about. It is nice to read about the Confederat side in the west. The confederates did treat the indians lots better than the Union side. An excellent story.

Personal Memoirs of P.H. Sheridan, General United States Army

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The life of a great Union general, in his own words
If You Can't Afford the Original 1888 2 Volume Set...

Personal Memoirs of P.H. Sheridan, General United States Army
Philip H. Sheridan
Manufacturer: Da Capo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0306804875

Book Description

While on his meteoric rise in the Union army, Philip H. Sheridan earned the enmity of many Virginians for laying waste to the Shenandoah Valley. His date and place of birth is uncertain, but he himself claimed to have been born in New York in 1831. Although he was destined to come out of the Civil War with the third greatest reputation among the victors, his military career did not begin auspiciously. It took him five years to graduate from West Point (1853) because of an altercation with fellow cadet and future Union General, William R. Terrill.

After serving in a staff position during the early part of the war he was recommended for the command of a cavalry regiment by Gordon Granger. Within days of taking command he was in charge of the brigade with which he earned his first star at Booneville in northern Mississippi. He fought well at Perryville and Murfreesboro and was given a second star in the volunteers.

When Grant went to the East, he placed Sheridan in command of the Army of the Potomac's mounted arm. Following Early's threat to Washington, Grant tapped Sheridan to command a new military division, comprised of three departments, and charged him with clearing out the Shenandoah Valley. For this campaign he was named brigadier and major general in the regular army and received the Thanks of Congress.

The next March he destroyed Early's remaining forces at Waynesboro and then went on a raid, threatening Lynchburg. Rejoining Grant, he smashed through the Confederate lines at Five Forks, necessitating the evacuation of both Petersburg and Richmond. It was his cavalry command, backed by infantry, which finally blocked Lee's escape at Appomattox.

This is a digital reprint of the two Volume C.L. Webster Shoulder Board editions “As Published” in 1888. This is Volume 1 (ISBN 1582181853) of 2 (ISBN 1582181861).

Customer Reviews:

The life of a great Union general, in his own words.......2003-11-15

The two-volume memoirs of General Philip Sheridan have been condensed in this edition to one paperback volume, thus making more accessible. Let me state up front that I'm giving this product four stars because of the edition. There is an introduction by Jeffry Wert, and that appears to be the extent of the work done in preparation for this volume's release. There are numerous spelling and mechanical errors (I'm not sure if these were Sheridan's or just the result of careless editing), and they are frequent enough to get really annoying really fast. ''m not talking about pre-standardized type spelling errors, or awkward, run-on nineteenth century sentences. No, these are just careless mistakes.

That having been said, this is a great volume of memoirs from one of the Civil War's most accomplished generals. I do not say great general, because whether or not he was great is still a topic of much controversy. There is no denying that Sheridan got things done, and that he won several important victories, but there is room for debate in the matter in which he accomplished things, and his treatment of subordinates in doing so.

Predictably, Sheridan paints a pretty rosy picture of himself in his memoirs. Still, to be fair to the man, he DID do an awful lot for the Union cause, and I don't think that his vainglory can be entirely chalked up to shameless self promotion. The fact is that he was a very key factor in several victories, and to take his part away from the narrative would be to distort the entire picture of what happened. "Little Phil" was almost always present and often in the fray during his decisive engagements. On the other hand, I noticed him dressing-down his role in some conflicts, whereas contemporary accounts praise his part to no end.

The great thing about memoirs is that we hear things straight from the mouths of those who took part in them, and are able to judge for ourselves to what extent their testimony is reliable. For me, at least, I will always feel that Sheridan's memoirs hold a certain bias, but I will nevertheless continue to hold this volume of personal narrative as valuable. (Note: this volume covers only to the point of Sheridan returning from Europe. There's nothing on the little Bighorn or later military activities here).

If You Can't Afford the Original 1888 2 Volume Set..........2000-05-07

These are his own words set in one paperback novel. Gives you a perspective on the war from a leadership position. However, it doesn't have the maps and pictures that the original volumes sported.

Book Description

In this volume, authors and primary documents relate important events of the Civil War era and describe the relevance of these events to United States history. Chapters include: Tension Mounts Between the North and the South; The Civil War; The Reconstruction Era; The United States and the Native Americans Battle Over Land Rights; The Gilded Age.

Civil War Etchings (Dover Pictorial Archive)

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Civil War Etchings (Dover Pictorial Archive)
Edwin Forbes
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486280438

Book Description

Treasury of 42 rare and valuable plates made from famed Civil War-era illustrator's on-the-spot sketches of day-to-day lives of Union soldiers: dress, sleeping arrangements, marches, picket duty, pastimes, etc. Plates accompanied by Forbes's simple, factual commentaries on each scene, later amplified by William Forrest Dawson, an army historian.

Frederick Douglass: Selected Speeches and Writings (Library of Black America series, The)

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We need a better edition!
A superb collection of speeches, writings, and reflections.

Frederick Douglass: Selected Speeches and Writings (Library of Black America series, The)
Frederick Douglass
Manufacturer: Lawrence Hill Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1556523491

Book Description

One of the greatest African American leaders and one of the most brilliant minds of his time, Frederick Douglass spoke and wrote with unsurpassed eloquence on almost all the major issues confronting the American people during his life—from the abolition of slavery to women’s rights, from the Civil War to lynching, from American patriotism to black nationalism. Between 1950 and 1975, Philip S. Foner collected the most important of Douglass’s hundreds of speeches, letters, articles, and editorials into an impressive five-volume set, now long out of print. Abridged and condensed into one volume, and supplemented with several important texts that Foner did not include, Frederick Douglass: Selected Speeches and Writings presents the most significant, insightful, and elegant short works of Douglass’s massive oeuvre.

Customer Reviews:

We need a better edition!.......2005-08-14

Douglass is great--a true American hero--and it's very nice to have a good, affordable single-volume collection of his writings. But be warned that this edition has MANY typographical errors--on nearly every other page--and does not contain the original typographical style, which I think detracts from the experience. Still, it's a very handy reference to have around.

A superb collection of speeches, writings, and reflections........2000-03-04

Frederick Douglas was one of the most important African American leaders of the 19th Century. He was a man who spoke and wrote with an unsurpassed eloquent on the issues confronting the American people during his life. His commentaries ranged from the abolition of slavery to women's rights, From the Civil War to racial lynchings, from American patriotism to black nationalism. Frederick Douglas: Selected Speeches and Writings was originally edited by Philip S. Foner and has been abridged and adapted in this superb "The Library of Black America" edition by Yuval Taylor. Frederick Douglas: Selected Speeches And Writings will form a core title in any personal, academic, or public library Black Studies collection.

Most Famous Soldier in America: A Biography of Lt Gen Nelson a Miles 1839-1925

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An excellent book.

Most Famous Soldier in America: A Biography of Lt Gen Nelson a Miles 1839-1925
Arthur J. Amchan
Manufacturer: Amchan Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Book Description

A biography of Nelson A. Miles, a twenty-one year old clerk in a Boston crockery store, who rose from the rank of Lieutenant to that of Major-General in the Union Army in the course of three years. Miles saw action in almost every major bat tle in the East during the Civil War, except Gettysburg. He missed that battle because he was recovering from a near-fatal abdominal wound he received while commanding a picket line at Chancellorsville. In recognition for his gallantry in that battle h e was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Virtually no individual in American history participated in as many famous historical events as General Miles and few have been as controversial. He was Jefferson Davis' jailer at Ft. Monroe in 1865-66 and placed the Confederate President in leg irons fo r several days. As a result Miles earned the lifelong enmity of Mrs. Davis, with whom he exchanged accusations as late as 1905.

One of the Army's most successful Indian fighters, Miles was instrumental in subjugating the Sioux after Custer's last stand and received the surrender of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce in 1877 and that of the Apache chief, Geronimo, in 1886. Commander o f the Army's Division of the Missouri in 1890, Miles was very critical of his subordinates who killed many Indian civilians at Wounded Knee.

In 1894, General Miles commanded the federal troops sent to Chicago during the Pullman strike and again provoked controversy. Despite his reservations, President Grover Cleveland appointed Miles to the post of Commanding General of the United States Arm y in 1895.

Miles' relations with the McKinley administration, which replaced the Cleveland administration, in March 1897, were never good. The new President may have disliked Miles in part because of the General's long feud with General George Crook, under whom Mc Kinley served as a staff officer in the Civil War. Miles, for his part, was hostile to the administration for its treatment of Senator John Sherman, his wife's uncle and his political benefactor. During the Spanish-American War, Miles played second fiddle to Naval heroes such as Admiral George Dewey, and General William Shafter, the commander of the Cuban invasion force. Nevertheless, Miles commanded reinforcements sent to Cuba before the Spanish surrender and the invasion of Puerto Rico.

In 1901, Theodore Roosevelt became President upon McKinley's assassination. He immediately clashed with General Miles over the General's public comments about a Naval court of inquiry concerning the conduct of Admirals Sampson and Schley during the Cuba n campaign. He continued to cross swords with the President over the conduct of America's war with the Philippine nationalists. Upon his retirement from the Army in 1903, The New York World described General Miles as "the most distinguished American sol dier now living." President Roosevelt, however, was of a different view. A year earlier, he described the General as "a perfect curse."

Customer Reviews:

An excellent book........1999-09-28

All people who are interested in US history should read this book

THE CIVIL WAR: 1850-1895 (AMERICAN HISTORY BY ERA, VOLUME 5)

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THE CIVIL WAR: 1850-1895 (AMERICAN HISTORY BY ERA, VOLUME 5)
Auriana (book ed.) Ojeda
Manufacturer: Greenhaven Farmington Hills, MI
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IWKM8U

Book Description

Vivid collage of 72 works, beautifully reproduced on two identical, full-color 18" x 24" sheets, with 3 matching gift cards. Paintings by Renoir, Degas, Manet, Gauguin, Seurat, van Gogh, Cezanne, Sargent, Cassatt, many others. Shrink-wrapped in a sturdy 9 1/4" x 12 1/4" folder (with no staples to mar the wrap), the sheets remain fresh and wrinkle-free till ready for use. Best of all, this giftwrap is just a fraction of the price of products available in stationery stores.

Post-Impressionist Paintings Giftwrap Paper: Two Sheets. . .

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Post-Impressionist Paintings Giftwrap Paper: Two Sheets. . .

Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

Two sheets — 18' x 24' (46 cm. x 61 cm.) — with 3 matching gift cards. Striking sheets display details from famously beautiful portraits, landscapes, and still lifes by 16 Post-Impressionists, among them Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Pierre Bonnard, and Maurice Denis.

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