Frederick Douglass in Context

This book places Frederick Douglass in a variety of geographical, political, social, cultural, and literary contexts of his time.

Michaël Roy (Edited by)

9781108478731, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 8 July 2021

450 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.9 cm, 0.78 kg

'This engaging, ambitious, multidisciplinary collection examines the life and career of famous 19th-century American abolitionist and human rights leader Frederick Douglass. … It should be required reading for any scholar of African American history. … Essential.' P. F. Rubio, Choice

Frederick Douglass in Context provides an in-depth introduction to the multifaceted life and times of Frederick Douglass, the nineteenth-century's leading black activist and one of the most celebrated American writers. An international team of scholars sheds new light on the environments and communities that shaped Douglass's career. The book challenges the myth of Douglass as a heroic individualist who towered over family, friends, and colleagues, and reveals instead a man who relied on others and drew strength from a variety of personal and professional relations and networks. This volume offers both a comprehensive representation of Douglass and a series of concentrated studies of specific aspects of his work. It will be a key resource for students, scholars, teachers, and general readers interested in Douglass and his tireless fight for freedom, justice, and equality for all.

List of illustrations
List of contributors
Chronology Maurice S. Lee
List of Abbreviations
Introduction Michaël Roy
Part I. Places
1. Baltimore Lawrence Jackson
2. The British Isles Hannah-Rose Murray
3. Rochester Nancy A. Hewitt
4. Washington, DC John R. McKivigan
5. Tour of Europe and Egypt Gary Totten
6. Haiti Brandon R. Byrd
Part II. Genres
7. Autobiography Robert S. Levine
8. Oratory Bjørn F. Stillion Southard
9. Journalism Benjamin Fagan
10. Fiction Ivy G. Wilson
11. Photography Autumn Womack
Part III. Activism
12. Abolition Kellie Carter Jackson
13. Temperance Erica L. Ball
14. Women's rights Hélène Quanquin
15. The civil war Chandra Manning
16. Reconstruction and civil rights Douglas R. Egerton
Part IV. Philosophy
17. Politics Kelvin C. Black
18. Law Jeannine Marie Delombard
19. Education Brigitte Fielder
20. Religion Maurice O. Wallace
21. Science and technology Eric Herschthal
22. Environment Tony C. Perry
Part V. Networks
23. The underground railroad Jesse Olsavsky
24. Colored conventions Jim Casey
25. Family Leigh Fought
26. Correspondence Fionnghuala Sweeney
27. Intertextuality Julia Lee
Part VI. Afterlifes
28. Paratexts Howard Rambsy II
29. Deployments: activism Nele Sawallisch
30. Deployments: art Janet Neary
31. Teaching Julie Husband
32. Bicentennial A. J. Aiséirithe
Further reading
Index.

Subject Areas: Human rights [JPVH], Black & Asian studies [JFSL3], Social issues & processes [JFF], Literary reference works [DSR], Literary studies: fiction, novelists & prose writers [DSK], Literary studies: from c 1900 - [DSBH]