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amatyja's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
labricoleuse's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
So engrossing. This read like an adventure novel but is actual history and the author cites his sources, even including an appendix of the pseudonymous articles published in abolitionist papers. Highly recommend.
liberrydude's review against another edition
4.0
I grew up in the DC area and lots of the information in here is a revelation. It’s really the story of three men: Thomas Smallwood- African American cobbler; Charles Torrey- abolitionist publisher; and Hope H. Slatter- slave trader.
Smallwood is the man who coined the term “underground railroad.” He was quite the provocateur of the slave owners as he organized numerous freedom runs of runaway slaves while also writing a column in an abolitionist newspaper that taunted the slave owners with their secrets and hypocritical beliefs. He was social media before that term existed. No one knew his identity. He’s never been given his due and no pictures exist of him.
Smallwood and Torrey worked together for two years in the 1840’s. Finally they had to flee north. Torrey came back and was jailed and died in a Maryland prison.
Slatter made millions selling slaves South. He was mocked and reviled by Torrey and Smallwood but was never accepted into society. Even the slave owners found slave traders vile. He moved from Baltimore to Richmond and finally to Mobile.
Eye opening and well written.
tigerkind's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, and Slavery
mikaylaaubellona's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
3.75
enjoyed the narrower focus on real people to make the theme not so overwhelming and to make the tone more hopeful and about individuals making a difference
no_more_shelf_control's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
4.25
FLEE NORTH: A Forgotten Hero and the Fight for Freedom in Slavery's Borderland by Scott Shane is an extraordinary portrait of Thomas Smallwood.
I received this early copy by @celadonbooks and began to slowly digest this account, & then when I saw the audio and was granted access, I was thrilled! Narrated by Rhett Samuel Price, it was the best combination for learning about this formidable man. The narration gave the words a life of their own!
Thomas Smallwood is a man who deserves so much more recognition. Shane expertly shares biographical information in a way that feels riveting. The wit and bravery of Smallwood with his satirical articles and brazen calling out of slave owners was exactly the kind of narrative that shows the work Black Americans were doing to eliminate slavery.
Included here are also the stories of two other men who were forces in Smallwood's life, one as an ally, and the other a target of derision as a slave trader. Both propelled Smallwood in his mission in various ways and it was fascinating to see their lives as impacted by Smallwood.
I don't read as much nonfiction, but this was a heavy story that helped remind me that we have a way to go on equality. The things Smallwood wrote in the 1840's were profound and would likely be banned in Florida today.
Thank you to @celadonbooks, @NetGalley & @macmillan.audio for sharing this special story. September 19th is the pub date, so grab this and learn more!
I received this early copy by @celadonbooks and began to slowly digest this account, & then when I saw the audio and was granted access, I was thrilled! Narrated by Rhett Samuel Price, it was the best combination for learning about this formidable man. The narration gave the words a life of their own!
Thomas Smallwood is a man who deserves so much more recognition. Shane expertly shares biographical information in a way that feels riveting. The wit and bravery of Smallwood with his satirical articles and brazen calling out of slave owners was exactly the kind of narrative that shows the work Black Americans were doing to eliminate slavery.
Included here are also the stories of two other men who were forces in Smallwood's life, one as an ally, and the other a target of derision as a slave trader. Both propelled Smallwood in his mission in various ways and it was fascinating to see their lives as impacted by Smallwood.
I don't read as much nonfiction, but this was a heavy story that helped remind me that we have a way to go on equality. The things Smallwood wrote in the 1840's were profound and would likely be banned in Florida today.
Thank you to @celadonbooks, @NetGalley & @macmillan.audio for sharing this special story. September 19th is the pub date, so grab this and learn more!
barnstormingbooks's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.5
Thank you Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC
Flee North is a well researched look at the beginnings of the Underground Railroad and at some of the players left out of popular histories of the time. Based heavily in direct source material from publications of the time this is a scholarly look at the early-mid 19th century in Washington and Baltimore. A great supplement for those that have read Four Hundred Souls, The 1619 Project, Stamped from the Beginning and/or How the Word is Passed.
Shane is a journalist by training, creating a well developed and organized account of the time, supported by remarks, writings, and primary sources. While unimpeachable, the focus on the words of the early 19th century can at times sanitize some of the horrors of the time.
For those interested I would suggest the print copy, the narrator goes over the top creating voices that start sounding very Foghorn Leghorn…
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