Josiah Henson (June 15, 1789 - May 5, 1883) was an author, abolitionist, and minister. Born into slavery in Charles County, Maryland, he escaped to Upper Canada (now Ontario) in 1830, and founded a settlement and laborer's school for other fugitive slaves at Dawn, near Dresden in Kent County. Henson's autobiography, The Life of Josiah Henson, Formerly a Slave, Now an Inhabitant of Canada, as Narrated by Himself (1849), is widely believed to have inspired the character of the fugitive slave, George Harris, in Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852).

IF ever a nation were taken by storm by a book, England has recently been stormed by "Uncle Tom's Cabin." It is scarcely three months since this book was first introduced to the British Reader, and it is certain that at least 1,000,000 copies of it have been printed and sold. The unexampled success of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" will ever be recorded as an extraordinary literary phenomena. Nothing of the kind, or anything approaching to it, was ever before witnessed in any age or in any country. A new fact has been contributed to the history of literature--such a fact, never before equaled, may never be surpassed. The pre-eminent success of the work in America, before it was reprinted in this country, was truly astonishing. All at once, as if by magic, everybody was either reading, or waiting to read, "the story of the age," and "a hundred thousand families were every day either moved to laughter, or bathed in tears," by its perusal. This book is not more remarkable for its poetry and its pathos, its artistic delineation of character and development of plot, than for its highly instructive power. A great moral idea runs beautifully through the whole story. One of the greatest evils of the world--slavery--is stripped of its disguises, and presented in all its naked and revolting hideousness to the reading world. And that Christianity, which consists not in professions and appearances, but in vital and vitalizing action, is exhibited in all-subduing beauty and tenderness in every page of the work.

In 1853, Eyre Crowe, a young British artist, visited a slave auction in Richmond, Virginia. Harrowed by what he witnessed, he captured the scene in sketches that he would later develop into a series of illustrations and paintings, including the culminating painting, Slaves Waiting for Sale, Richmond, Virginia. This innovative book uses Crowe’s paintings to explore the texture of the slave trade in Richmond, Charleston, and New Orleans, the evolving iconography of abolitionist art, and the role of visual culture in the transatlantic world of abolitionism. Tracing Crowe’s trajectory from Richmond across the American South and back to London—where his paintings were exhibited just a few weeks after the start of the Civil War—Maurie D. McInnis illuminates not only how his abolitionist art was inspired and made, but also how it influenced the international public’s grasp of slavery in America. With almost 140 illustrations, Slaves Waiting for Sale brings a fresh perspective to the American slave trade and abolitionism as we enter the sesquicentennial of the Civil War.

Father Henson's Story of His Own Life is an autobiographical account of the life of Josiah Henson, an African American man who was born into slavery in Maryland in the late 18th century. Henson's story is a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Despite being subjected to the cruelty of slavery, Henson was able to escape and establish himself as a respected member of the free black community in Canada. The book chronicles Henson's life from his early years as a slave on a plantation to his eventual escape to freedom. Along the way, Henson describes the various hardships he faced, including the separation from his family, the brutal treatment of his fellow slaves, and the constant threat of violence from his white masters. Despite these challenges, Henson was able to maintain his faith and his determination to be free.Henson's story is also a valuable historical document that sheds light on the realities of slavery in the United States. Through his vivid descriptions of plantation life, Henson gives readers a glimpse into the brutal and dehumanizing nature of the institution. He also provides insight into the various strategies that slaves used to resist their oppressors, including acts of rebellion and escape.Overall, Father Henson's Story of His Own Life is a powerful and inspiring account of one man's journey from slavery to freedom. It is a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit, and a valuable historical document that sheds light on the realities of slavery in the United States.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

One of the most influential novels of the 19th century, Uncle Tom's Cabin tells the story of a slave named Tom and his struggle for freedom. Through vivid and often harrowing scenes, Harriet Beecher Stowe exposes the brutal realities of American slavery and challenges readers to confront their own complicity in the system. A landmark of American literature, Uncle Tom's Cabin remains a powerful indictment of racism and injustice. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.