Weems helped to fabricate the image of Washington that has since dominated the American historical imagination and which in its time, secured Washington's fame. This edition includes documents that provide an insight into the construction of American national identity.

Weems helped to fabricate the image of Washington that has since dominated the American historical imagination and which in its time, secured Washington's fame. This edition includes documents that provide an insight into the construction of American national identity.

Originally published in 1853, "Clotel" is one of the first novels by an African American. In it, Brown treats the themes of gender, race and slavery in distinctive ways, highlighting the mutability of identity, as well as the absurdities and cruelties of slavery.

Originally published in 1853, Clotel is the first novel by an African American. William Wells Brown, a contemporary of Frederick Douglass, was well known for his abolitionist activities. In Clotel, the author focuses on the experiences of a slave woman: Brown treats the themes of gender, race, and slavery in distinctive ways, highlighting the mutability of identity as well as the absurdities and cruelties of slavery. The plot includes several mulatto characters, such as Clotel, who live on the margins of the black and white worlds, as well as a woman who dresses as a man to escape bondage; a...

Amongst other things, this book is a devastating critique of Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia, in which he mused about black inferiority. Its publication in 1810, after Jefferson's opposition to its appearance, was a major event for African Americans.

Amongst other things, this book is a devastating critique of Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia, in which he mused about black inferiority. Its publication in 1810, after Jefferson's opposition to its appearance, was a major event for African Americans.

First published in 1909, W.E.B. Du Bois's biography of abolitionist John Brown is a literary and historical classic. With a rare combination of scholarship and passion, Du Bois defends Brown against all detractors who saw him as a fanatic, fiend, or traitor. Brown emerges as a rich personality, fully understandable as an unusual leader with a deeply religious outlook and a devotion to the cause of freedom for the slave.

This new edition is enriched with an introduction by John David Smith and with supporting documents relating to Du Bois's correspondence with his publisher.

First published in 1909, W.E.B. Du Bois's biography of abolitionist John Brown is a literary and historical classic. With a rare combination of scholarship and passion, Du Bois defends Brown against all detractors who saw him as a fanatic, fiend, or traitor. Brown emerges as a rich personality, fully understandable as an unusual leader with a deeply religious outlook and a devotion to the cause of freedom for the slave.

This new edition is enriched with an introduction by John David Smith and with supporting documents relating to Du Bois's correspondence with his publisher.