by Simon Schama
First published 2010
Thousands of African Americans escape slavery during the Revolutionary War by joining British forces who promise them freedom. Simon Schama traces their journey from Southern plantations through the chaos of battle to the bitter cold of Nova Scotia, where many who served the Crown discover broken promises about receiving land. The narrative follows key British abolitionists including Granville Sharp, a flute player who becomes a father figure to the freedom movement, and John Clarkson, who emerges as a Moses-like leader. Clarkson guides the former slaves on their final ocean voyage to Africa, where they seek the liberty that has eluded them. Schama weaves together personal stories of courage and betrayal with the larger political forces that shaped these lives. The book reveals how the American Revolution created unexpected opportunities for enslaved people while exposing the gap between British promises and reality.
Genres: historical-fiction, biography-memoir, african-american-historical-fiction, american-history
Vibes: emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, redemption
Setting: Africa, Nova Scotia, Southern Plantations
Period: American Revolution, Revolutionary War
544 pages · Kindle Edition · Vintage Digital
Content warnings: slavery