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Nat Turner (Black Americans of Achievement
Presents the life and times of the African American preacher who led a slave revolt in Southampton County, Virginia in 1831, believing that God wanted him to free the slaves.
- GenresBiography
96 pages, Library Binding
First published April 28, 1988
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84 people want to read
About the author
Terry Bisson
214 books176 followersTerry Ballantine Bisson was an American science fiction and fantasy author best known for his short stories, including "Bears Discover Fire" (1990), which which won both the Hugo and Nebula awards, as well as They're Made Out of Meat (1991), which has been adapted for video often.
Adapted from Wikipedia.
Adapted from Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 16, 2010
Author: Terry Bisson; Introductory Essay: Coretta Scott King
This is the biography of Nat Turner, a revolutionary slave who revolted and rebelled against slave owners. It follows his story from beginning to end, and gets into what it felt like to be a slave, and the determination it took to rise up.
I like this biography a lot...more-so than most. While it does read like many, from...was born, to ...died; it begins at the end of his life, when he was caught and hung...the opening paragraphs are simply written, but gripping...I didn't realize the severity of what I had read, until I was finished reading it. I would use this book when discussing slavery, and all they had to endure, paralleling their determination to that of my students and all they can become.
This is the biography of Nat Turner, a revolutionary slave who revolted and rebelled against slave owners. It follows his story from beginning to end, and gets into what it felt like to be a slave, and the determination it took to rise up.
I like this biography a lot...more-so than most. While it does read like many, from...was born, to ...died; it begins at the end of his life, when he was caught and hung...the opening paragraphs are simply written, but gripping...I didn't realize the severity of what I had read, until I was finished reading it. I would use this book when discussing slavery, and all they had to endure, paralleling their determination to that of my students and all they can become.
April 27, 2017
So to cover all the points in no particular order.
While I have a long history of not enjoying older nonfiction books that only have a smattering of black and white pictures I really enjoyed the art in this book. Perhaps this is partially to do with the fact that I have a growing awareness of good black and white art, but I also think it has to do with the way in which the art was printed. Large and graphic, I loved how I could really get into the texture of the different prints. It was also pretty cool to see some of the original documents, since I am a bit of a nerd that way. Not the most important thing, but since I generally review comic books I do have strong feelings on the topic.
That, of course, was not the only thing about this book that really blew me away. The combination of science fiction author Terry Bisson and honoured academic Nathan Irvin Huggins really blew this story out of the park! Again, I generally don't expect too much from these older, black and white, grade school oriented nonfiction books but this book proved my assumptions WRONG.
The story was extremely engaging and really informative. It centers on the experience of slaves in a way that I (in my limited experience) had never really read before. Instead of being passive victims, slaves are active with ideas and a history of unrest. This is one of the major reasons why I gave this book five stars, because I do find not only excellent but also inspiring.
Another aspect that I found really skillful and inspiring was the intersectionality that this book really illustrates. Finding ways in which to reach across the lines of race and talk about how those in the lowest working classes always get the short end of the stick. Obviously, this is not a requirement, but since it didn't seem to diminish the supremely evil practice of slavery it was a nice cherry on top.
The only real drawback that came from reading this book was that when I watched the movie it felt a bit lesser. But such is life. I feel like I'm forgetting something else but I shall come back and ad it if I eventually happen to remember.
While I have a long history of not enjoying older nonfiction books that only have a smattering of black and white pictures I really enjoyed the art in this book. Perhaps this is partially to do with the fact that I have a growing awareness of good black and white art, but I also think it has to do with the way in which the art was printed. Large and graphic, I loved how I could really get into the texture of the different prints. It was also pretty cool to see some of the original documents, since I am a bit of a nerd that way. Not the most important thing, but since I generally review comic books I do have strong feelings on the topic.
That, of course, was not the only thing about this book that really blew me away. The combination of science fiction author Terry Bisson and honoured academic Nathan Irvin Huggins really blew this story out of the park! Again, I generally don't expect too much from these older, black and white, grade school oriented nonfiction books but this book proved my assumptions WRONG.
The story was extremely engaging and really informative. It centers on the experience of slaves in a way that I (in my limited experience) had never really read before. Instead of being passive victims, slaves are active with ideas and a history of unrest. This is one of the major reasons why I gave this book five stars, because I do find not only excellent but also inspiring.
Another aspect that I found really skillful and inspiring was the intersectionality that this book really illustrates. Finding ways in which to reach across the lines of race and talk about how those in the lowest working classes always get the short end of the stick. Obviously, this is not a requirement, but since it didn't seem to diminish the supremely evil practice of slavery it was a nice cherry on top.
The only real drawback that came from reading this book was that when I watched the movie it felt a bit lesser. But such is life. I feel like I'm forgetting something else but I shall come back and ad it if I eventually happen to remember.
November 28, 2019
Most excellent! For "young adults" but no condescension in Bisson's writing. Better illustrations (documents, photos, contemporary newspaper illustrations, etc.) than in any of the more academic treatises. Some of the captions by the editors are not good, but easily disregarded.
April 22, 2017
An excellent book on a controversial and neglected but highly influential liberation movement. Great for adults and children. Bisson does a great job of describing Turner, his fellow liberators and their white oppressors. He humanizes them all. He describes Turner's motives, his character, his strategies and tactics in detail but without becoming bogged down or boring in the least. He evaluates his successes and his failures as a military leader as well as his legacy. A valuable introduction. I will read it again, perhaps several times.
March 8, 2021
I admit my bias towards being in favor of this particular ADOS story. I will admit, however, that I was a bit thrown off by the Coretta Scott King introduction. It appears that the publishers (or whoever) used a one-size fits all introduction for each book in this collection/series.
In the beginning, I wasn't even sure if I'd be able to finish because the way my anger is set up. . . I tend to have problems moving on when something in the story upsets me or when it gets personal.
I ended up getting so many revelations while finishing up this true gem of black history reading.
First, in the context of the loss that our community is currently taking at the hands of a cult that I will refer to as CB Nation, under the hands of a black man who I will refer to as N Boy, who tries to come off as someone doing the work of a Nat Turner even though if you look him up, all he's doing is leading his followers to destruction. I really wish we had a better way of keeping these kinds of situations in check.
Most of the time (reading this) I was considering the rebellion a complete loss. I didn't think that the resulting revenge on black communities was worth the risk that General Nat took. I also judged him quite harshly at first for believing so strongly in the white man's religion/God/salvation. As I started to put the pieces together, however, I realized that the prophet used the fire and imagery of religion to help spark something much greater. It also helped him expand beyond his owners plantation. I now understand that the risks had to be taken and the story had to unfold the way that it did to prove a point. The blood is on the hand of the white man, as well as all of those who supported and benefited, at all from slavery. Not even the so called poor white has clean hands. They should have been praying.
This book proves more and more of how history repeats itself. I cringed at the amount of slaves who were loyal to their masters, those who turned on their own people just to please them. I also understand the situation and trauma even though I don't like what happened. I hate knowing that enslaved people had no value unless they were being worked, sold, or hanged. It hurt even worse knowing that not too much has changed today.
Finally, I feel that all of the energy and celebration that currently goes behind people like Dr. MLK, Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks can and should be shifted and shared with people like Nat Turner and Ida B. Wells. This country has a ton of work to be done to right it's wrongs.
I'm team Turner.
In the beginning, I wasn't even sure if I'd be able to finish because the way my anger is set up. . . I tend to have problems moving on when something in the story upsets me or when it gets personal.
I ended up getting so many revelations while finishing up this true gem of black history reading.
First, in the context of the loss that our community is currently taking at the hands of a cult that I will refer to as CB Nation, under the hands of a black man who I will refer to as N Boy, who tries to come off as someone doing the work of a Nat Turner even though if you look him up, all he's doing is leading his followers to destruction. I really wish we had a better way of keeping these kinds of situations in check.
Most of the time (reading this) I was considering the rebellion a complete loss. I didn't think that the resulting revenge on black communities was worth the risk that General Nat took. I also judged him quite harshly at first for believing so strongly in the white man's religion/God/salvation. As I started to put the pieces together, however, I realized that the prophet used the fire and imagery of religion to help spark something much greater. It also helped him expand beyond his owners plantation. I now understand that the risks had to be taken and the story had to unfold the way that it did to prove a point. The blood is on the hand of the white man, as well as all of those who supported and benefited, at all from slavery. Not even the so called poor white has clean hands. They should have been praying.
This book proves more and more of how history repeats itself. I cringed at the amount of slaves who were loyal to their masters, those who turned on their own people just to please them. I also understand the situation and trauma even though I don't like what happened. I hate knowing that enslaved people had no value unless they were being worked, sold, or hanged. It hurt even worse knowing that not too much has changed today.
Finally, I feel that all of the energy and celebration that currently goes behind people like Dr. MLK, Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks can and should be shifted and shared with people like Nat Turner and Ida B. Wells. This country has a ton of work to be done to right it's wrongs.
I'm team Turner.
November 27, 2020
I'm embarrassed to admit I didn't know who Nat Turner was. His name recently came up while we were watching Roots and it got me curious to find out about him. His is a story that we should all be taught.
January 7, 2023
Short introduction, history of Nat Turner
March 17, 2014
A fast-moving account of the brief life of a slave in 1830s Virginia who received a religiously inspired vision or insight to take up arms in hopes of inspiring a general slave revolt. He was an inspirational Christian preacher and attracted followers to his clandestine cause. He and his followers carried out a destructive march through a small part of Virginia, murdering 60 whites in their homes and fields. A non-slave-owning poor white farmer was spared. Turner's force which at its peak numbered about 60 men, was defeated, and Turner was eventually captured. He gave a jailhouse interview that was published as "The Confessions of Nat Turner" was tried, found guilty, and executed.
His actions may have been motivated by a wish to convey a message about slavery, rather than a realistic plan to wrest land from land-owners, hold the land, and transform the social order. He had a plan of "conquest" only that was not thought-out in terms of strategic goals. He was counting on attracting more and more slaves to his campaign - since his organization relied on the element of surprise to "conquer" white farms and from them obtain weapons/food, it was only a matter of time before word spread of his murderous march and land-owners prepared themselves (barricades/arms) or fled. Thus, the "pyramid scheme" aspect of his program, i.e. growth through conquest, was finished. He had no other way to obtain arms/supplies other than raiding farms. Once the source of his power (arms/supplies) was cut off, he was effectively finished.
What was the message Turner hoped to convey in his campaign of terror? Certainly, he wished to protest the institution of slavery, and also show that slaves could organize themselves into a militia. However, there was no program or alternative system he was proposing other than the retribution or punishment he wished to mete out to slave-owning whites. The agricultural-commodity system operated based on the exploitation of slave labor. Even had the freed slaves taken over the plantations they had raided, would they have needed to keep slaves to work these farms? Had they instead employed farm-workers, paid them wages, etc, could they, under the market conditions then current, have realized enough of a profit to stay above water. The area had just emerged from a depression that saw the collapse of prices of agricultural commodities. There was no thought given to how agricultural commodities could be produced and command a higher price to offset wages that would need to be paid to workers. The economic model at the time in that area was based on the exploitation of slave labor. The agricultural products were being sold at very cheap prices. Mass exploitation of slave labor - the slave system - enabled the few, the slave-owning whites, to live well, sometimes grandly, at the expense of the many, the slaves. I do not see that Turner had thought through aspects of the system such that even if he had sparked a general slave revolt in the slave-owning areas and even if slave-owning was outlawed as a result of his uprising, how could the population of the formerly slave-owning areas earn enough given a market that favored the manufacturers in England, who, as the sole market for the agricultural products evidently, were in a position to buy raw material (e.g. cotton) at such a cheap price. Was there any thought that the manufacturers had to be forced in some way to pay maybe double of what they were previously paying for raw materials (agricultural products) so that the producers of the materials could live?
Although non-violent social change is preferable, slavery was ended through violence - the Civil War - 30 years after Turner's insurgency.
His actions may have been motivated by a wish to convey a message about slavery, rather than a realistic plan to wrest land from land-owners, hold the land, and transform the social order. He had a plan of "conquest" only that was not thought-out in terms of strategic goals. He was counting on attracting more and more slaves to his campaign - since his organization relied on the element of surprise to "conquer" white farms and from them obtain weapons/food, it was only a matter of time before word spread of his murderous march and land-owners prepared themselves (barricades/arms) or fled. Thus, the "pyramid scheme" aspect of his program, i.e. growth through conquest, was finished. He had no other way to obtain arms/supplies other than raiding farms. Once the source of his power (arms/supplies) was cut off, he was effectively finished.
What was the message Turner hoped to convey in his campaign of terror? Certainly, he wished to protest the institution of slavery, and also show that slaves could organize themselves into a militia. However, there was no program or alternative system he was proposing other than the retribution or punishment he wished to mete out to slave-owning whites. The agricultural-commodity system operated based on the exploitation of slave labor. Even had the freed slaves taken over the plantations they had raided, would they have needed to keep slaves to work these farms? Had they instead employed farm-workers, paid them wages, etc, could they, under the market conditions then current, have realized enough of a profit to stay above water. The area had just emerged from a depression that saw the collapse of prices of agricultural commodities. There was no thought given to how agricultural commodities could be produced and command a higher price to offset wages that would need to be paid to workers. The economic model at the time in that area was based on the exploitation of slave labor. The agricultural products were being sold at very cheap prices. Mass exploitation of slave labor - the slave system - enabled the few, the slave-owning whites, to live well, sometimes grandly, at the expense of the many, the slaves. I do not see that Turner had thought through aspects of the system such that even if he had sparked a general slave revolt in the slave-owning areas and even if slave-owning was outlawed as a result of his uprising, how could the population of the formerly slave-owning areas earn enough given a market that favored the manufacturers in England, who, as the sole market for the agricultural products evidently, were in a position to buy raw material (e.g. cotton) at such a cheap price. Was there any thought that the manufacturers had to be forced in some way to pay maybe double of what they were previously paying for raw materials (agricultural products) so that the producers of the materials could live?
Although non-violent social change is preferable, slavery was ended through violence - the Civil War - 30 years after Turner's insurgency.
November 9, 2013
In this book astonishing author Terry Bisson takes us through the life and times of one of the biggest slave revolts in U.S history, led by male slave Nat turner. I found it amazing to go into the mind of a man who felt as if it was his god given right to be the "bringer of death if you will", to the white race. The journey begins on the day Nat turner is about to be publicly execute, after being caught and beaten. Knowing he is about to be killed he....Well you'll just have to read to find out. Come with us as we journey back in time to a period in our history of slavery, segregation, and hatred. Where skin colour defined a man not his character. Filled with racial warfare and deception, this book would be good for a reader who has a mind that aches to know the point of view from all angles. I do not think their is a main protagonist or antagonist . However our main character sides with Malcolm X and his teachings "an eye for an eye". I liked the book. I feel as if some parts are important to know about our history that way we don't repeat. If I kill the person who kills , that doesn't make me and better then them. Good read enjoy!
July 23, 2011
This is the only book I've read on Nat Turner so I can't really attest to its accuracy. It was an interesting read and with my limited knowledge I didn't catch any serious factual issues so I think it's pretty good. This definitely covers an element of American history that needs to be made known and understood.
October 2, 2011
A short overview of the life of Nat Turner, who led the biggest slave revolt in the US.
December 21, 2014
Interesting account of a courageous man typically given only a paragraph or so in school history books.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews