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Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom

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'Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom' by Catherine Clinton delves into the extraordinary life of Harriet Tubman, a truly heroic figure who risked her life time and time again to lead slaves to freedom. The author provides a detailed narrative about Tubman's life, highlighting her courage, perseverance, and selflessness. Despite the lack of historical evidence and gaps in information, Clinton successfully pieces together the story of Tubman, blending historical events with personal stories to create an engaging account.

not only focuses on Tubman's efforts as a slave saver, but also sheds light on her lesser-known roles during the Civil War as a nurse, spy, and leader. Clinton manages to capture the essence of Tubman's long and impactful life, showcasing her relentless determination and unwavering commitment to the cause of freedom. The narrative also provides insights into the times and limitations within which Tubman operated, painting a vivid picture of her remarkable journey.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style combines rich historical context with occasional disjointedness, resulting in a narrative that can be engaging yet confusing.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative focuses on Tubman's life and accomplishments but suffers from a lack of detailed documentation and a non-chronological structure.

Setting:

The setting primarily encompasses 19th-century America, focusing on slavery and the Civil War era.

Pacing:

Pacing is uneven, which some readers find disrupts engagement, though the content retains interest.
AT THE TURN of the nineteenth century, the Eastern Shore of Maryland was in many ways a world apart—the rich, rolling fields semicircling Chesapeake Bay, abutting Delaware to the east and grazing Penn...

Notes:

Harriet Tubman did not document the details of her journeys back to the South, making it hard to know her exact experiences.
She was at great risk due to a reward on her head and the Fugitive Slave Act, even in free states.
Despite being illiterate, Tubman achieved remarkable feats as a nurse, scout, and leader during the Civil War.
Tubman frequently risked her life to rescue family and others from slavery, often traveling back to Maryland to do so.
The author of the book, Catherine Clinton, pieced together incomplete information to tell Tubman's story, but there are gaps.
Many interviews and accounts of Tubman did not ask detailed questions about her experiences, leaving many specifics unknown.
The timeline of the book jumps around, which confused some readers seeking a more linear narrative.
Tubman lived a life of selflessness, often taking on menial jobs just to fund her rescue missions.
She is celebrated as an American hero for her bravery and determination in guiding others to freedom.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include discussions of slavery, violence, and the harsh realities of the time, which may be intense for some readers.

From The Publisher:

The definitive biography of one of the most courageous women in American history "reveals Harriet Tubman to be even more remarkable than her legend" (Newsday).

Celebrated for her exploits as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman has entered history as one of nineteenth-century America's most enduring and important figures. But just who was this remarkable woman? To John Brown, leader of the Harper's Ferry slave uprising, she was General Tubman. For the many slaves she led north to freedom, she was Moses. To the slaveholders who sought her capture, she was a thief and a trickster. To abolitionists, she was a prophet.

Now, in a biography widely praised for its impeccable research and its compelling narrative, Harriet Tubman is revealed for the first time as a singular and complex character, a woman who defied simple categorization.

"A thrilling reading experience. It expands outward from Tubman's individual story to give a sweeping, historical vision of slavery." -NPR's Fresh Air

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About the Author:

Catherine Clinton received an undergraduate degree in Afro-American Studies from Harvard University and a PhD in history from Princeton. She has taught at Harvard, Brandeis, Brown, and Wesleyan, and is the author of more than fifteen books. She lives in Connecticut.

 
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