Access the full text.
Sign up today, get DeepDyve free for 14 days.
REVIEWS the book explains why some of his contemporaries believed he was insane. In short, this biography offers a fair assessment of Torrey's real contributions to the abolitionist movement, without making him appear larger than life or perfect. The author provides a very engaging story that makes this an easy read. Still, there are a few weaknesses. First, the book does not adequately examine how Charles Torrey felt about women's role in the abolitionist movement, nor does it detail his interaction with female abolitionists. Because this was a time when women's issues intersected with the abolitionist movement at every turn, this is a glaring oversight. Second, the author repeats many oft-cited myths about the Underground Railroad when he depicts it as being led by Quakers and white men like Torrey, Levi Coffin, and John Rankin. African American agents like Torrey's friend and chief UR collaborator Thomas Smallwood, and even William Still are portrayed as pawns of, or assistants to, white agents. Moreover, the system itself is presented as static, with fixed locations and conductors rather than the richly dynamic biracial social movement with many layers that historians such as Keith Griffler have convinced us it was. Finally, the
Journal of the Early Republic – University of Pennsylvania Press
Published: Aug 12, 2014
Read and print from thousands of top scholarly journals.
Already have an account? Log in
Bookmark this article. You can see your Bookmarks on your DeepDyve Library.
To save an article, log in first, or sign up for a DeepDyve account if you don’t already have one.
Copy and paste the desired citation format or use the link below to download a file formatted for EndNote
Access the full text.
Sign up today, get DeepDyve free for 14 days.
All DeepDyve websites use cookies to improve your online experience. They were placed on your computer when you launched this website. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.