Historians approach history in various ways to catch their reader’s attention and make sure that their books are interesting at the same time. They tend to write histories based on concrete evidence from the past− ethnography, journals, and research. However, John Demos went beyond the normal stereotype. He approached history unconventionally by drawing hypothesis from certain historical evidence and connecting history to his subject rather than just speculating; he made it personal. In Unredeemed Captive, he made it clear that he wrote this historical novel based on research, also, journals and diaries left by the Williams family. Moreover, the evidence that he had in hand was incomplete, leaving him stuck in times. Yet, he managed to turn it into a novel based on history by drawing hypothesis from the incomplete evidence. He significantly drew hypothesis from two distinct sources, one from common senses and one from references. When he provided a piece of history that limited his path to continue his novel, he started to question the evidence and answered the question himself from his own common sense. For instance, Demos brought up a question “ Had John exploited his position (as host) to lord it over the visitors?” right after he attached a piece of letter from Stephen Williams to Kellogg regarding the problem between John and the visitors. At the same time, he answered the question directly saying that the …show more content…
For instance, Foner talked about the “New World” in his first chapter, started from describing Native American and their existing land till different colonies conquering the land of America. So the way Demos connected to history differed from other historical
The Slave Ship, by Marcus Rediker was wrote in 2007 about the cruel and brutal actions the slaves endured on their journey across the Atlantic Ocean. He states, “this has been a painful book to write, if I have done any justice to the subject, it will be a painful book to read.” Marcus Rediker accomplished exactly that. This book was not only compelling but emotional, heartbreaking, and makes a reader think, how could someone be so cruel to another living being. Within the first couple pages, the book brought me to tears.
Nicholas Lemann begins his book “Redemption: The Last Battle of the Civil War” with the 1873 Colfax, Louisiana massacre where a White League militia comprised of former Confederate soldiers killed black Republican voters. The Colfax massacre was perhaps the bloodiest event of Reconstruction. Lemann views this event as a startup of what would happen later in Mississippi if Federal troops did not defend black voters. Lemann blames Ulysses S. Grant’s Secretary of War, William W. Belknap, for not stopping the White Line activity in Louisiana and Mississippi. Grant had worked hard to stop the Ku Klux Klan in the early 1870s with Congress passing legislation and Federal troops putting down Klan activity.
On a cold winter’s day (February 29), the town of Deerfield, Massachusetts was in for the shock of its life (pg. 64). Hundreds of French and Indian individuals invaded this town with tremendous force resulting in a horrific outcome for its habitants (pg. 64). Many were slaughtered, taken captive, and some tried their hardest to get away from the attackers as quickly as possible (pg. 64). Some of the most prominent captives taken from Deerfield were Reverend John Williams and his family (more specifically his daughter Eunice and son Samuel) (pg. 66).
In his book, Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever, Bill O’Reilly attempts to explore, in depth, the events leading up to and immediately after the assassination of President Lincoln. As a Television show host, questions arise as to O’Reilly’s qualifications to write such a book. To make up for the insight that he might lack, O’Reilly co-authors the book with Martin Dugard who, having written numerous non-fiction books prior to this one including The Last Voyage of Columbus and Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley & Livingstone, gives the book the qualifications it needs to be credible. In Part One, O’Reilly chronicles the final days of the Civil War as well as Lincoln and Boothe’s movements as the
The Infortunate is an autobiography written by an indentured servant named William Moraley. In his memoir, he talks about how he became an indentured servant, as well as some of the experiences he has encountered throughout his voyage into the New World. Through his words, readers are able to understand the hardships that indentured servants and slaves have gone through, and to capture what freedom is like for them during the 18th century. However, editors named Susan E. Klepp and Billy G. Smith were able to prove that Moraley has exaggerated several instances, which makes us question if his story is a valid primary source. This also makes us think about what could possibly be his intention in writing this memoir, or what he wanted people to take away from his story.
Such stories were regularly utilized as promulgation or propaganda: accordingly, Europeans frequently stereotyped Native Americans as merciless and whites started to see subjugation of African-Americans as detestable. The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast the two narratives which are A Narrative of the Captivity and The interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equianoa. A Narrative of Captivity by Mary Rowlandson and The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano are two generally read imprisonment accounts , which, individually, relate the encounters of a grown-up white lady caught by Indians and an eleven-year-old Black male caught for the American slave market. Looking at these two accounts uncovers fascinating similitudes and contrasts and in addition in the encounters and responses of these two prisoners.
Worse than Slavery, by David Oshinsky, is a novel about post-Civil War America, and the life it gave free African Americans in Mississippi and other parts of the South. Oshinsky writes about the strict laws and corrupt criminal justice system blacks faced after they were freed, and while the contents of the book are not typically read about in history textbooks, it is important to understand what life was like for the freedman. Anyone interested in reading his book would profit from it. With the end of the Civil War came the destruction of the old system of slavery. Many white Southerner’s were outraged, but were forced to accept the newly freed blacks.
Captivity is defined as the state of being imprisoned or confined. A tragic experience is given a whole new perspective from Louise Erdrich 's poem, “Captivity”. Through descriptive imagery and a melancholic tone, we can see the poem and theme develop in her words. Erdrich takes a quote from Mary Rowlandson’s narrative about her imprisonment by the Native Americans and her response to this brings readers a different story based off of the epigraph. Louise Erdrich compiles various literary devices to convey her theme of sympathy, and her poem “Captivity” through specific and descriptive language brings a whole new meaning to Mary Rowlandson’s narrative.
“The man that brought this news had no ears, for they had been cut off, and no toes, for they had been cut off too” (16). This book displays how ruthless was this
Life after incarceration, here today gone tomorrow. 95% of adults sentenced to prison will return to our communities, and reentry will be their first step back into society. Imagine have a thousand questions flooding one’s mind all at once. Where will I live, how will I survive, and contribute to the family, while maintaining to the stipulations of one’s parole/ probation, without risking freedom. The number one goal for those newly released back into society by way of the reentry program is to never return to the inside of a prison cell.
In Jason Hartley essay “I Jailor” two aspects of human behavior that we see demonstrated in this essay is superior behavior and cowardly behavior. The reason I say Hartley essay demonstrated the behavior of superior and cowardly, because of the behavior that Hartley demonstrated in his essay. The first example to show that Hartley was showing superior behavior is when Hartley said: ”A messy configuration where detainees, local civilian contractors, and politicians along with ICDC clowns “(864). The reason I say the statement is a perfect example of Hartley showing superior behavior because to me it sounds like he feels like he is better than everyone at the jail because he is a U.S. citizen and U.S. shoulder. If Hartley did not refer to Iraqi
Her book will go down in history as a means to educate students about the appalling tale of the atrocities committed by John Wilson. Simmie aimed to create a book that would repair Polly Wilson’s,also known as Mary Hutchinson’s, reputation. With each book sold, Simmie continues to accomplish the task of amending the memory of Polly as well as spreading the truth of John Wilson. “In a story carefully reconstructed from letters, police files, and court documents author Lois Simmie creates a book that is a compelling mix of true-crime, history and the vagaries of human nature” (back cover). Simmie proves to reader that though someone may be a person of the law, they may still be capable of horrendous actions and they are not above the persecution of the justice system.
Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano: Comparing Captivity Experiences Americans have been intrigued by captivity novels and works for centuries. It could be the sense of danger and unpredictability that makes them so interesting and popular. Or maybe the idea that captivity was quite possible for readers in previous centuries made captivity narratives popular in Colonial Times. Speaking of Colonial Times, two popular captivity narratives that took place in that era that have many similarities and differences are; A Narrative of the Captivity of Mary Rowlandson and The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano.
Rotting in a cell. Counting down the days. Trying to learn how to be a man before the big day. In the book “A Lesson Before Dying” by Ernest J. Gaines: Grant Wiggins a school teacher tries to help a falsely convicted black man named Jefferson. During this time Grant release what can do to not only change Jefferson but change himself as well and he achieves redemption.
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. By Bryan Stevenson. Spiegel & Grau, 2015. Pp. 368.