Library Journal Review
| In 1839, Theodore Dwight Weld's American Slavery As It Is was published, shocking its readers with its detailed documentation of the human impact of the "peculiar institution." Authors and social scientists Carl and Dorothy Schneider (American Women in the Progressive Era, 1900-1920) follow in the tradition of Weld with their comprehensive study of this dark side of our nation's history. Moving from 15th-century Africa to 19th-century America, this highly useful reference volume combines easy-to-read overview essays, useful chronologies, access to otherwise elusive eyewitness accounts and other historic documents, a useful glossary, and extensive biographical references. Because of its format, scope, and focus, the book will be a frequently consulted reference tool in both public and academic libraries, though similar material will also be found in more general reference works, such as Kwame Appiah's Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience (LJ 11/15/99).ÄTheresa McDevitt, Indiana Univ. of Pennsylvania (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
School Library Journal Review
| Gr 9 Up-A history of slavery with an emphasis on primary-source material. Each of the 12 lengthy chapters covers a different topic and period from "The West Coast of Africa: 1441-1866" to "Runaways: 1619-1865" to "The End of Slavery: 1861-1865." Each has the same format: an introductory summation of the period is followed by a chronology and relevant excerpts from contemporary newspaper articles, diaries, speeches, letters, memoirs, and advertisements. These documented pieces offer a range of viewpoints and often powerful testimony. Well-chosen, black-and-white reproductions and photographs are scattered throughout. Three appendixes include excerpts from 45 additional documents, short biographies of major personalities, and a glossary. A thorough index allows access to all references on a subject or person. A minor drawback to this title is that the full bibliographic citations for the primary-source material are given only at the end of the volume. A comprehensive resource that gathers together a diverse amount of information in one place.-Janet Woodward, Garfield High School, Seattle, WA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
