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The Escapes of David George: An Odyssey of Slavery, Freedom, and the American Revolution
By a prize-winning historian: The dramatic story of a Black man's relentless search for freedom in Revolutionary-era America
When most Americans think of slavery, they do not picture the colonial or revolutionary eras. Yet, in fact, one of six inhabitants of the thirteen original colonies was enslaved. The Escapes of David George: an Odyssey of Slavery, Freedom, and the American Revolution reveals a remarkable, untold experience of the American revolutionary period--a Black man's quest for the freedom espoused by our Founders, but denied him and other enslaved people.
In 1762, at the age of 19, David George escaped from a plantation in Virginia. Running southwest by night, fording rivers and crossing borders, he embarked on a decades-long journey in and out of captivity that spanned multiple colonies and thousands of miles. George lived among White, Black, Creek, and Natchez settlements, fled to the British Army for the promise of liberty, founded what might have been the first Black Baptist church, helped to hack a settlement for refugees out of the Nova Scotia wilderness, and died as a leader of an experimental anti-slavery community in Sierra Leone.
Piecing together archival records and David George's own brief account of his life--the earliest written testimony by a fugitive enslaved person in North America--Gregory O'Malley presents a thrilling narrative and a unique perspective on our nation's origins, principles, and contradictions.
When most Americans think of slavery, they do not picture the colonial or revolutionary eras. Yet, in fact, one of six inhabitants of the thirteen original colonies was enslaved. The Escapes of David George: an Odyssey of Slavery, Freedom, and the American Revolution reveals a remarkable, untold experience of the American revolutionary period--a Black man's quest for the freedom espoused by our Founders, but denied him and other enslaved people.
In 1762, at the age of 19, David George escaped from a plantation in Virginia. Running southwest by night, fording rivers and crossing borders, he embarked on a decades-long journey in and out of captivity that spanned multiple colonies and thousands of miles. George lived among White, Black, Creek, and Natchez settlements, fled to the British Army for the promise of liberty, founded what might have been the first Black Baptist church, helped to hack a settlement for refugees out of the Nova Scotia wilderness, and died as a leader of an experimental anti-slavery community in Sierra Leone.
Piecing together archival records and David George's own brief account of his life--the earliest written testimony by a fugitive enslaved person in North America--Gregory O'Malley presents a thrilling narrative and a unique perspective on our nation's origins, principles, and contradictions.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 3, 2026
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5501 people want to read
About the author
Gregory E. O'Malley
2 books10 followersGregory E O'Malley is professor of history at UC Santa Cruz. His first book, Final Passages: The Intercolonial Slave Trade of British America, 1619-1807, won the Forkosch, Rawley, Owsley, and Elsa Goveia awards. He is a key contributor to the SlaveVoyages.org, consulted on The 1619 Project, and lectures widely on the slave trade and related subjects.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 30, 2025
First,a HUGE thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Gregory O’Malley, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book which allows me to provide an honest review.
This book initially interested me because I am a big history nerd. Especially when it comes to the American Revolution. And, I thought it was strange that we would continue to hear of the founding fathers as slaveholders, yet never heard and stories of the struggles of slaves during that time. As I read the book, the quote by Martin Luther King Jr in the introduction really hit home:
“Whites, it must frankly be said, are not putting in a similar mass effort to reeducate themselves out of their racial ignorance. It is an aspect of their sense of superiority that the white people of America believe they have so little to learn.”
It’s sad that this is just as true today as it was when he said it.
The plight of David George,and frankly millions of other enslaved people is truly heartbreaking.
I strongly recommend this book to everyone. We begin the process of change with one single step.
This book initially interested me because I am a big history nerd. Especially when it comes to the American Revolution. And, I thought it was strange that we would continue to hear of the founding fathers as slaveholders, yet never heard and stories of the struggles of slaves during that time. As I read the book, the quote by Martin Luther King Jr in the introduction really hit home:
“Whites, it must frankly be said, are not putting in a similar mass effort to reeducate themselves out of their racial ignorance. It is an aspect of their sense of superiority that the white people of America believe they have so little to learn.”
It’s sad that this is just as true today as it was when he said it.
The plight of David George,and frankly millions of other enslaved people is truly heartbreaking.
I strongly recommend this book to everyone. We begin the process of change with one single step.
February 6, 2026
The Escapes Of David George by Gregory D O’Malley, this is a true story about a man who was on a relentless quest to be free. He knew you can call him a slave and tell him he can’t but more than once he proved he could. In the 1700s he started his quest for freedom at 19 and wouldn’t stop until he reached Sierra Leone thanks to the British. He got help from many different people from Creoles to white people to other Black people. He started the first Baptist Church because throughout it all the one thing he never gave up was God his religion and the fact he knew he wasn’t going to be held by anyone. I really enjoyed this book some of the book such as his travels on his escapes or a lot of guessing like maybe he took this river or he took that river but his intent and final result are all facts I thought Mr. O’Malley wrote a great story with the slight information he had I was so happy to read a slave story that had a happy ending because some of them do it’s just sad what he had to go through to get there. despite this being a happy story it also made me think of the people around the world who died in slavery not just in America but lots of other places. It's such a sad existence and a sadder way to die. no one has the right to keep people like animals. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
February 3, 2026
Very well researched. What called me to it is that David is not a tale of a runaway slave from the 19th century as many books and stories depict, but the 1742. This happens before pre-revolutionary eras, before famous slave narratives, even before the Underground Railroad. So he didn't follow many patterns or known routes that salves after will be safe, for example, he runs south, living among the Creek nation, survives Nova Scotia, and helps to found a colony in Sierra Leone. A valuable educational tool.
David is going to flee towards the British Army, which gives us a different perspective on American History. I loved his courage, hiding in plain sight. It has some violent descriptions (which are hard to escape due to the theme), but they are very short. It's mostly a fast-paced read with an informative focus and a very adventurous tone. He is not only one of the first to escape, but he also changed the history of the Black Baptist Church in North America as a preacher.
There are emotional chapters. One of the strongest ones is related to smallpox and how David does what he thinks is right to save his family. I also loved all of the chapters related to the Creek Nation. (They are very rich in research, history, and culture).
David is going to flee towards the British Army, which gives us a different perspective on American History. I loved his courage, hiding in plain sight. It has some violent descriptions (which are hard to escape due to the theme), but they are very short. It's mostly a fast-paced read with an informative focus and a very adventurous tone. He is not only one of the first to escape, but he also changed the history of the Black Baptist Church in North America as a preacher.
There are emotional chapters. One of the strongest ones is related to smallpox and how David does what he thinks is right to save his family. I also loved all of the chapters related to the Creek Nation. (They are very rich in research, history, and culture).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Gregory O’Malley’s The Escapes of David George is an another reminder to me of the alternative viewpoints in history that we see. In this book it is also one we rarely consider.
We are all aware that slavery existed in the United States, but we don’t often think about the fact that it existed in the colonies before the United States officially existed.
Why? Most likely because of two primary reasons. Blacks were almost always illiterate and could no more write down their story than read someone else’s. Teaching Blacks to read and write was punishable, further limiting their ability to learn. But having states that abolished slavery and eventually ending the enslavement of Black people altogether created an environment where Black people could learn to write and share their stories. But those stories can only go back as far as the memories of the people sharing them. The decades leading up to the Civil War were also a time of divisiveness in the country, with slavery being one of the leading causes.
In the decades leading up to the Revolutionary War there was no safe space for Black people fleeing slavery to go to, no one of their skin color or others to protect them or fight for their freedom, and the majority of the country was not focused on how Black were being mistreated, they were focused on how wealthier, land or business owning white men were being taxed without representation by the British.
This is the world of David George. And while O’Malley is still limited by the actual recounting of George’s life that is not as extensive as the information we have available for Revolutionary leaders, we have real words from someone whose story is precious for its rarity and insight.
George’s biographical accounting alone would probably not be enough to fill a book. O’Malley does a splendid job of supplementing George’s words with historical context, giving the reader the context of his environment, the dynamics of the time, and the limited options available to him. He presents George in his own words, and while avoiding putting words into his mouth, provides explanations for when George’s recountings are likely to be inaccurate, such as when he says he observes his brother receiving five hundred lashes and being put back to work.
George is an indomitable spirit, refusing to give up on the ideal of freedom, which in the last decades of his life he achieves some measure of in the Sierra Leone Society run by the British Government. Before then, he will experience a journey just as harrowing if not more so than the more well recounted stories of slaves escaping to freedom in the decades leading up to the Civil War. George’s journey starts in the colony of Virginia in the 1740s, and his story begins with fleeing slavery in the 1760s. It will take you across the borders of what are now the states of South Carolina and Georgia, into the now nonexistent Creek Territory, to a loyalist holdout in Georgia in the waning years of the Revolutionary War, and up to Nova Scotia, where in George’s time being free as a Black person was still a very precarious thing.
This is an incredibly well done history from a little told perspective, and constantly brought up things I wouldn’t have even thought to consider. Closing the book out is an epilogue that reflects back on freedoms and inalienable rights as so often referenced in the Constitution. O’Malley brings up the sentiment of Samuel Adams, that we are as free as we deserve to be, and the pursuit of a more perfect union. This is a thought provoking ending, that the Union wasn’t perfect at its founding, and that, as wrong as the motivation might have been, that the white landed men of the colonies saw the enslaved Black people as a reminder of where they could be (instead of even more persecuted) if they didn’t fight to the death if need be for their freedom.
I am always an advocate for more well-rounded history, especially if an author has put in the hard work to make the story they tell worth reading. O’Malley has and you should.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
We are all aware that slavery existed in the United States, but we don’t often think about the fact that it existed in the colonies before the United States officially existed.
Why? Most likely because of two primary reasons. Blacks were almost always illiterate and could no more write down their story than read someone else’s. Teaching Blacks to read and write was punishable, further limiting their ability to learn. But having states that abolished slavery and eventually ending the enslavement of Black people altogether created an environment where Black people could learn to write and share their stories. But those stories can only go back as far as the memories of the people sharing them. The decades leading up to the Civil War were also a time of divisiveness in the country, with slavery being one of the leading causes.
In the decades leading up to the Revolutionary War there was no safe space for Black people fleeing slavery to go to, no one of their skin color or others to protect them or fight for their freedom, and the majority of the country was not focused on how Black were being mistreated, they were focused on how wealthier, land or business owning white men were being taxed without representation by the British.
This is the world of David George. And while O’Malley is still limited by the actual recounting of George’s life that is not as extensive as the information we have available for Revolutionary leaders, we have real words from someone whose story is precious for its rarity and insight.
George’s biographical accounting alone would probably not be enough to fill a book. O’Malley does a splendid job of supplementing George’s words with historical context, giving the reader the context of his environment, the dynamics of the time, and the limited options available to him. He presents George in his own words, and while avoiding putting words into his mouth, provides explanations for when George’s recountings are likely to be inaccurate, such as when he says he observes his brother receiving five hundred lashes and being put back to work.
George is an indomitable spirit, refusing to give up on the ideal of freedom, which in the last decades of his life he achieves some measure of in the Sierra Leone Society run by the British Government. Before then, he will experience a journey just as harrowing if not more so than the more well recounted stories of slaves escaping to freedom in the decades leading up to the Civil War. George’s journey starts in the colony of Virginia in the 1740s, and his story begins with fleeing slavery in the 1760s. It will take you across the borders of what are now the states of South Carolina and Georgia, into the now nonexistent Creek Territory, to a loyalist holdout in Georgia in the waning years of the Revolutionary War, and up to Nova Scotia, where in George’s time being free as a Black person was still a very precarious thing.
This is an incredibly well done history from a little told perspective, and constantly brought up things I wouldn’t have even thought to consider. Closing the book out is an epilogue that reflects back on freedoms and inalienable rights as so often referenced in the Constitution. O’Malley brings up the sentiment of Samuel Adams, that we are as free as we deserve to be, and the pursuit of a more perfect union. This is a thought provoking ending, that the Union wasn’t perfect at its founding, and that, as wrong as the motivation might have been, that the white landed men of the colonies saw the enslaved Black people as a reminder of where they could be (instead of even more persecuted) if they didn’t fight to the death if need be for their freedom.
I am always an advocate for more well-rounded history, especially if an author has put in the hard work to make the story they tell worth reading. O’Malley has and you should.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Gregory O’Malley, the author of The Escapes of David George is a professor of history who specializes in slavery and the slave trade in colonial British America and the Caribbean, He weaves a compelling book out of the slim story of the life of David George. That story was told by George himself to a group of London ministers, who then transcribed and published it in 1793. At only eleven pages, it is, the author says, the earliest known firsthand account of a person who had escaped slavery in North America.
It’s a testament to O’Malley’s knowledge and research that he can start from that slim eleven-page story and construct as full and compelling of an account of the life and times of David George as he does. I found this book fascinating and enlightening.
It may not be common knowledge today but at the time of the American Revolution slavery was legal throughout Britain and all of its colonies. Which means that throughout North America from British Canada all the way down south to the British colony in Georgia slavery was practiced. There were no “free states” for an escaped slave to run to. There were no railroads, of course, let alone an Underground Railroad. Slaves had nowhere to run in the colonies.
Beyond that, at the time of the Revolution the thirteen colonies did not in general have white settlement extending as far beyond the coast as their state borders go today. Much of the inland geography was held by indigenous nations, and an enslaved person on their own in an Indian nation’s territory was not assured of freedom. Many tribes had agreements with the colonies to return escaped slaves for a bounty.
In short, an escaped slave in Revolutionary times would do well to go south and west to the interior of the lesser populated colonies like the Carolinas, aiming for the territory between the major white settlements and the indigenous nations, for the best chance at not being captured and sent back to enslavement.
That is exactly what David George did when he escaped the Chappell (pronounced “chapel”) plantation in Virginia, running from his master who he called “a very bad man to the Negroes.” From there he faced a future that involved periods of relative freedom hiding in plain sight, re-enslavement, and more than one escape. All of these adventures led up to his finding a wife, starting a family, and becoming a minister, all while re-enslaved — highly unusual activities for a slave — but made possible because of the lax attitude and unique role his then master had as a go-between of the Creek nation and the British. When the Revolution broke out George risked flight to the British Army with his congregation. The Redcoats publicly offered the promise of freedom to all slaves held by American rebels. Taking advantage of that offer ultimately led to George and his follower’s final home in the “experimental” anti-slavery colony of Sierra Leone in Africa, established by the British in 1787.
O’Malley uses George’s movement through multiple British colonies to examine the attitudes toward and realities of slavery in the British colonies and Revolutionary America. Toward the end of the book, he pays special attention to how our country’s Founding Fathers, many of whom were slave owners themselves, felt toward the institution of slavery. His thoughts here were most interesting, if not necessarily breaking any new ground. To sum it up in a few words, the rationale he surmises they would have used to defend owning slaves falls into the category of “blaming the victim”.
O’Malley also encourages us to think of David George as a “Founding Father” himself, if not of our nation than for our nation’s ideals as stated in the Declaration of Independence. It’s an odd designation and not one I would have chosen, but I do agree with the sentiment behind it. David George was uniquely dedicated to freedom for himself and those around him in a time of great upheaval and rapid change in America. That is certainly a commitment we can all aspire to in today’s unsettled times.
I read an advanced reviewer’s ebook copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher, St Martin’s Press. The book will go on sale on February 3rd, 2026, and will be available in hardcover and ebook versions.
It’s a testament to O’Malley’s knowledge and research that he can start from that slim eleven-page story and construct as full and compelling of an account of the life and times of David George as he does. I found this book fascinating and enlightening.
It may not be common knowledge today but at the time of the American Revolution slavery was legal throughout Britain and all of its colonies. Which means that throughout North America from British Canada all the way down south to the British colony in Georgia slavery was practiced. There were no “free states” for an escaped slave to run to. There were no railroads, of course, let alone an Underground Railroad. Slaves had nowhere to run in the colonies.
Beyond that, at the time of the Revolution the thirteen colonies did not in general have white settlement extending as far beyond the coast as their state borders go today. Much of the inland geography was held by indigenous nations, and an enslaved person on their own in an Indian nation’s territory was not assured of freedom. Many tribes had agreements with the colonies to return escaped slaves for a bounty.
In short, an escaped slave in Revolutionary times would do well to go south and west to the interior of the lesser populated colonies like the Carolinas, aiming for the territory between the major white settlements and the indigenous nations, for the best chance at not being captured and sent back to enslavement.
That is exactly what David George did when he escaped the Chappell (pronounced “chapel”) plantation in Virginia, running from his master who he called “a very bad man to the Negroes.” From there he faced a future that involved periods of relative freedom hiding in plain sight, re-enslavement, and more than one escape. All of these adventures led up to his finding a wife, starting a family, and becoming a minister, all while re-enslaved — highly unusual activities for a slave — but made possible because of the lax attitude and unique role his then master had as a go-between of the Creek nation and the British. When the Revolution broke out George risked flight to the British Army with his congregation. The Redcoats publicly offered the promise of freedom to all slaves held by American rebels. Taking advantage of that offer ultimately led to George and his follower’s final home in the “experimental” anti-slavery colony of Sierra Leone in Africa, established by the British in 1787.
O’Malley uses George’s movement through multiple British colonies to examine the attitudes toward and realities of slavery in the British colonies and Revolutionary America. Toward the end of the book, he pays special attention to how our country’s Founding Fathers, many of whom were slave owners themselves, felt toward the institution of slavery. His thoughts here were most interesting, if not necessarily breaking any new ground. To sum it up in a few words, the rationale he surmises they would have used to defend owning slaves falls into the category of “blaming the victim”.
O’Malley also encourages us to think of David George as a “Founding Father” himself, if not of our nation than for our nation’s ideals as stated in the Declaration of Independence. It’s an odd designation and not one I would have chosen, but I do agree with the sentiment behind it. David George was uniquely dedicated to freedom for himself and those around him in a time of great upheaval and rapid change in America. That is certainly a commitment we can all aspire to in today’s unsettled times.
I read an advanced reviewer’s ebook copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher, St Martin’s Press. The book will go on sale on February 3rd, 2026, and will be available in hardcover and ebook versions.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“The Escapes of David George” is a non-fiction history recounting the life of David George, who was born into slavery in Virginia in the 1740s, and who “self-emancipated” several times, and fought for the British Army during the American Revolution, to finally gain his freedom. Becoming one of the nation’s first Baptist ministers, George eventually moved to Nova Scotia and then Sierra Leone where he helped establish settlements. Authored by Professor Gregory E. O’Malley, Professor of History at UC Santa Cruz and a contributor to the 1619 Project, “Escapes” is a treatise that fully explores and expounds upon slavery and racism during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
The book is based, in part, not upon a full-fledged diary or autobiography, but upon George’s oral retelling of his life to Baptist ministers in London who then “transcribed and published several pages of his words in an obscure periodical.” Professor O’Malley marries this brief piece of hearsay reportage with examinations of various aspects of American colonial life to suppose for readers what George’s life must have been like.
From the outset, it must be said that many of those examinations are interesting and informative. O’Malley covers a wide range of topics, including Southern agriculture, geography, and commerce; laws, customs, and practices affecting slavery; Creek and Natchez cultures and relations with British, French, and Spanish settlers and governments; various individuals affecting George’s experiences; comparisons of slavery in America with slavery in Africa, and Christianity amongst the enslaved to mention a few
However, I found Professor O’Malley’s portrayal of David George himself highly problematic. Much of that portrayal is based upon the professor’s speculations as to the choices that must have confronted George, and how and why he made those choices, as he sought to gain permanent freedom. In other words, “Escapes” is a book filled with Professor O’Malley’s guesswork.
When combined with Professor O’Malley’s clearly expressed progressive, antiwhite, anti-patriarchy point of view, what results often seemed more a political screed than a reliable history or biography. Far from the “thrilling narrative” promised by the promotional materials, I frequently found “Escapes” to be more polemic than probative, based, as it is, on “scant evidence,” and filled, as it is, with supposition, inference, and conjecture.
Bottom line: Those seeking to learn something about American colonial and revolutionary society, and/or those who share Professor O’Malley’s progressive point of view, may find much to admire in this work. However, those seeking to discover who David George actually was may be disappointed.
My thanks to NetGalley, author Gregory E. O’Malley, and publisher St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a complimentary ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.
The book is based, in part, not upon a full-fledged diary or autobiography, but upon George’s oral retelling of his life to Baptist ministers in London who then “transcribed and published several pages of his words in an obscure periodical.” Professor O’Malley marries this brief piece of hearsay reportage with examinations of various aspects of American colonial life to suppose for readers what George’s life must have been like.
From the outset, it must be said that many of those examinations are interesting and informative. O’Malley covers a wide range of topics, including Southern agriculture, geography, and commerce; laws, customs, and practices affecting slavery; Creek and Natchez cultures and relations with British, French, and Spanish settlers and governments; various individuals affecting George’s experiences; comparisons of slavery in America with slavery in Africa, and Christianity amongst the enslaved to mention a few
However, I found Professor O’Malley’s portrayal of David George himself highly problematic. Much of that portrayal is based upon the professor’s speculations as to the choices that must have confronted George, and how and why he made those choices, as he sought to gain permanent freedom. In other words, “Escapes” is a book filled with Professor O’Malley’s guesswork.
When combined with Professor O’Malley’s clearly expressed progressive, antiwhite, anti-patriarchy point of view, what results often seemed more a political screed than a reliable history or biography. Far from the “thrilling narrative” promised by the promotional materials, I frequently found “Escapes” to be more polemic than probative, based, as it is, on “scant evidence,” and filled, as it is, with supposition, inference, and conjecture.
Bottom line: Those seeking to learn something about American colonial and revolutionary society, and/or those who share Professor O’Malley’s progressive point of view, may find much to admire in this work. However, those seeking to discover who David George actually was may be disappointed.
My thanks to NetGalley, author Gregory E. O’Malley, and publisher St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a complimentary ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.
February 14, 2026
A very solid 3.5 rating for the research and historical background of a book that is based upon oral retelling which was then published into in an obscure periodical from those London Baptist ministers' several pages of George's words. With that in mind, one should also keep in mind that it may not be 100 percent accurate--think of the game "Telephone" where a message winds up with some distortions by the time it reaches it end. The ministers took down George's words, trying to capture what he told them, and was then edited for the publication. This means there was little left behind by George about his life, and many gaps to be filled in.
Taking that all into account, Author Gregory E. O’Malley, Professor of History at UC Santa Cruz, weaves George's life with a variety of other topics. Because otherwise, The Escapes of David George: An Odyssey of Slavery, Freedom, and the American Revolution, might have wound up more like a 100-page or less book if the focus had been solely upon following George and his struggles and odyssey, including his main focus as a Baptist preacher in Silver Creek, Nova Scotia, and eventually Sierra Leone.
Before I go further, I would like to thank Sara Beth Haring from St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and the author, Gregory E. O'Malley, for providing this advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
O'Malley weaves engaging history within the pages and writes in an easy to follow manner, that included, to name just a few: customs and practices that affected slavery, the South's geography, agriculture, and commerce, various Christian viewpoints and practices, the cultures of the Natchez and Creek and their relations with the French, British, and Spanish settlers and governments, comparisons of slavery in America and in Africa, plus George's various encounters with influential individuals of the time. O'Malley questions the historians who have taken historians' of the times accounts at face value, and attempts to offer other possible outcomes to try and imagine what life might have been like for this several times "self-emancipated" black man during the brink of the American Revolution and afterward.
Unfortunately, there were times it felt, as a reader, that the author's anti-patriarchy and antiwhite beliefs bleed out. Thus, the 3-star rating. Of course there will be biases, and it was obvious what O'Malley's overall thesis was. He did incredible research and that made The Escapes of David George a unique work. And generally, the main focus of most texts on involving the Revolution is upon the colonists fighting the British to gain independence. George's story provides some insight into what the British subjects and refugees likely experienced in the southern states. For anyone interested in the history of the Baptist Church in America--remember that the Anglican Church (Church of England) was, during this time, the established church in the Southern colonies of George, Maryland, North and South Carolina, and Virginia--George's story is quite inspiring.
I highly recommend this book for anyone with interest in the following: learning more about the British's influence and authority in the southern colonies and colonial resistance; about a black man seeking to find his place in a world where there were many inequalities; a brief glimpse into the Creek Nation (and George's time with them); the importance of faith, family, and community; the beginnings of likely the first black church and worshipping in mixed-race congregations; refugee camps in the woods of Nova Scotia; and the experimental anti-slavery colony next to a slave-trading fort in Sierra Leone.
Taking that all into account, Author Gregory E. O’Malley, Professor of History at UC Santa Cruz, weaves George's life with a variety of other topics. Because otherwise, The Escapes of David George: An Odyssey of Slavery, Freedom, and the American Revolution, might have wound up more like a 100-page or less book if the focus had been solely upon following George and his struggles and odyssey, including his main focus as a Baptist preacher in Silver Creek, Nova Scotia, and eventually Sierra Leone.
Before I go further, I would like to thank Sara Beth Haring from St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and the author, Gregory E. O'Malley, for providing this advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
O'Malley weaves engaging history within the pages and writes in an easy to follow manner, that included, to name just a few: customs and practices that affected slavery, the South's geography, agriculture, and commerce, various Christian viewpoints and practices, the cultures of the Natchez and Creek and their relations with the French, British, and Spanish settlers and governments, comparisons of slavery in America and in Africa, plus George's various encounters with influential individuals of the time. O'Malley questions the historians who have taken historians' of the times accounts at face value, and attempts to offer other possible outcomes to try and imagine what life might have been like for this several times "self-emancipated" black man during the brink of the American Revolution and afterward.
Unfortunately, there were times it felt, as a reader, that the author's anti-patriarchy and antiwhite beliefs bleed out. Thus, the 3-star rating. Of course there will be biases, and it was obvious what O'Malley's overall thesis was. He did incredible research and that made The Escapes of David George a unique work. And generally, the main focus of most texts on involving the Revolution is upon the colonists fighting the British to gain independence. George's story provides some insight into what the British subjects and refugees likely experienced in the southern states. For anyone interested in the history of the Baptist Church in America--remember that the Anglican Church (Church of England) was, during this time, the established church in the Southern colonies of George, Maryland, North and South Carolina, and Virginia--George's story is quite inspiring.
I highly recommend this book for anyone with interest in the following: learning more about the British's influence and authority in the southern colonies and colonial resistance; about a black man seeking to find his place in a world where there were many inequalities; a brief glimpse into the Creek Nation (and George's time with them); the importance of faith, family, and community; the beginnings of likely the first black church and worshipping in mixed-race congregations; refugee camps in the woods of Nova Scotia; and the experimental anti-slavery colony next to a slave-trading fort in Sierra Leone.
December 7, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
When Americans think of escaped slaves, their first thought is usually to the Underground Railroad – the mechanism responsible for ferrying so many men, women, and children to freedom. But the first passages on the Underground Railroad did not occur until the late 1780’s – decades after David George attempted escape from his plantation. For George, escape was a self-driven battle through both countryside and city looking for sympathetic individuals who could help him survive. But his escape from the plantation was on the beginning of a long and storied tale of fighting for justice and equality for himself and his community. In The Escapes of David George, Gregory E. O’Malley explores George’s life from childhood in slavery through capture by Native American tribes to establishment of the first Black Baptist Church in America to his migration to Sierra Leone. This complete look at the life of this remarkable man will leave readers in awe of George’s bravery and the circumstances that worked both for and against his favor.
I give The Escapes of David George 4 out of 5 stars. This was as very detailed account, but there were several passages that felt like repeats with the author revisiting previous chapters nearly word for word. It was surprising the amount of detail provided for George’s life and those repeated details left me confused at times. I was also surprised at this recounting – I have lived in the areas where George was taken by the Native American and where he established his church, but never heard of him. I have also studied church history without hearing of him. Books like this are an important piece to teaching the full history of our country, which is why confusing repetition must be kept at a minimum to lead to engagement and retention.
This is a fantastic book for readers looking to learn about slavery before and during the Revolutionary War. I would also recommend this to readers looking to learn more about the dangers from Native American tribes that white and black settlers faced during this time period. We’ve read similar books like Twelve Years a Slave, but this is the first focused on this timeframe.
When Americans think of escaped slaves, their first thought is usually to the Underground Railroad – the mechanism responsible for ferrying so many men, women, and children to freedom. But the first passages on the Underground Railroad did not occur until the late 1780’s – decades after David George attempted escape from his plantation. For George, escape was a self-driven battle through both countryside and city looking for sympathetic individuals who could help him survive. But his escape from the plantation was on the beginning of a long and storied tale of fighting for justice and equality for himself and his community. In The Escapes of David George, Gregory E. O’Malley explores George’s life from childhood in slavery through capture by Native American tribes to establishment of the first Black Baptist Church in America to his migration to Sierra Leone. This complete look at the life of this remarkable man will leave readers in awe of George’s bravery and the circumstances that worked both for and against his favor.
I give The Escapes of David George 4 out of 5 stars. This was as very detailed account, but there were several passages that felt like repeats with the author revisiting previous chapters nearly word for word. It was surprising the amount of detail provided for George’s life and those repeated details left me confused at times. I was also surprised at this recounting – I have lived in the areas where George was taken by the Native American and where he established his church, but never heard of him. I have also studied church history without hearing of him. Books like this are an important piece to teaching the full history of our country, which is why confusing repetition must be kept at a minimum to lead to engagement and retention.
This is a fantastic book for readers looking to learn about slavery before and during the Revolutionary War. I would also recommend this to readers looking to learn more about the dangers from Native American tribes that white and black settlers faced during this time period. We’ve read similar books like Twelve Years a Slave, but this is the first focused on this timeframe.
February 16, 2026
PEARL RULED @ 28%
Rating: 3* of five
The Publisher Says: By a prize-winning historian: The dramatic story of a Black man's relentless search for freedom in Revolutionary-era America
When most Americans think of slavery, they do not picture the colonial or revolutionary eras. Yet, in fact, one of six inhabitants of the thirteen original colonies was enslaved. The Escapes of David George: an Odyssey of Slavery, Freedom, and the American Revolution reveals a remarkable, untold experience of the American revolutionary period—a Black man's quest for the freedom espoused by our Founders, but denied him and other enslaved people.
In 1762, at the age of 19, David George escaped from a plantation in Virginia. Running southwest by night, fording rivers and crossing borders, he embarked on a decades-long journey in and out of captivity that spanned multiple colonies and thousands of miles. George lived among White, Black, Creek, and Natchez settlements, fled to the British Army for the promise of liberty, founded what might have been the first Black Baptist church, helped to hack a settlement for refugees out of the Nova Scotia wilderness, and died as a leader of an experimental anti-slavery community in Sierra Leone.
Piecing together archival records and David George's own brief account of his life—the earliest written testimony by a fugitive enslaved person in North America—Gregory O'Malley presents a thrilling narrative and a unique perspective on our nation's origins, principles, and contradictions.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: There's a good book in here; or maybe it's a good book, and just did not mesh with my reading mood. Hundreds of notes, a lot of intimate and social detail, seemingly the sort of thing I batten on, yet I bailed out at this: "Indeed, the trade route on the Savannah River would play a major role in David's next attempt to tun from slavery, but that attempt would not come for many years."
Well, he'll be making it without my presence. I don't know why but it's just not the read for me.
St. Martin's Press will let you read it for $15.99 in ebook. Maybe read a sample, then decide? Or the library, which is likely to have one?
Rating: 3* of five
The Publisher Says: By a prize-winning historian: The dramatic story of a Black man's relentless search for freedom in Revolutionary-era America
When most Americans think of slavery, they do not picture the colonial or revolutionary eras. Yet, in fact, one of six inhabitants of the thirteen original colonies was enslaved. The Escapes of David George: an Odyssey of Slavery, Freedom, and the American Revolution reveals a remarkable, untold experience of the American revolutionary period—a Black man's quest for the freedom espoused by our Founders, but denied him and other enslaved people.
In 1762, at the age of 19, David George escaped from a plantation in Virginia. Running southwest by night, fording rivers and crossing borders, he embarked on a decades-long journey in and out of captivity that spanned multiple colonies and thousands of miles. George lived among White, Black, Creek, and Natchez settlements, fled to the British Army for the promise of liberty, founded what might have been the first Black Baptist church, helped to hack a settlement for refugees out of the Nova Scotia wilderness, and died as a leader of an experimental anti-slavery community in Sierra Leone.
Piecing together archival records and David George's own brief account of his life—the earliest written testimony by a fugitive enslaved person in North America—Gregory O'Malley presents a thrilling narrative and a unique perspective on our nation's origins, principles, and contradictions.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: There's a good book in here; or maybe it's a good book, and just did not mesh with my reading mood. Hundreds of notes, a lot of intimate and social detail, seemingly the sort of thing I batten on, yet I bailed out at this: "Indeed, the trade route on the Savannah River would play a major role in David's next attempt to tun from slavery, but that attempt would not come for many years."
Well, he'll be making it without my presence. I don't know why but it's just not the read for me.
St. Martin's Press will let you read it for $15.99 in ebook. Maybe read a sample, then decide? Or the library, which is likely to have one?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Interesting historical account of a black man, David George, evading capture by his slave owner and pursuing freedom, establishing the first black Baptist church and eventually ending up in Sierra Leone. The timing of the escape is pre-revolutionary and George’s story ends up many years afterwards. In this broad sweep, we learn much about our country’s early history.
First, I applaud the author for writing this book. In this time of anti-wokeness and DEI, books that continue to tell stories about black men and women are important. There also are few books about blacks in early American history, so it fills an important niche.
George’s escapes occurred when there was no underground railway - he had no maps to follow either, just a fine “sense” that lead him forward. George really had to be clever and resourceful to evade runaway hunters too. Then, the sections on the indigenous people were of great interest to me since we have tried to wipe out their history as well. It amazed me how flexible George was in participating in this life. His eventual settling in Sierra Leone was sort the “cherry on the top” ending to his life - born a slave in America, dying a free man in Africa!
I really liked George. There is no doubt a man of lesser fortitude could never have done what he did. I applaud the author in his selection of telling George’s story. He did a fine job of putting together archival records and George’s own writing (the earliest written record of a fugitive black person as the publisher points out). Also George is inspiring - his never give up attitude was amazing to me in this telling.
This is an important book as stated earlier about our country’s early history. We need to continue to expose the unseemliness and wrongness of slavery. No! black slaves came to the plantation porch to sing at night in joy and happiness with Miss Julie as portrayed in the movie Jezebel. No! they were not given skills to carry with them if set free as revisionists seem to want to portray today. David George’s story exposes the wrongness of that thinking. This is again why this is such an important book.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Publishers for allowing me to read this ARC.
#GregoryEO’Malley
#TheEscapesofDavidGeorge
First, I applaud the author for writing this book. In this time of anti-wokeness and DEI, books that continue to tell stories about black men and women are important. There also are few books about blacks in early American history, so it fills an important niche.
George’s escapes occurred when there was no underground railway - he had no maps to follow either, just a fine “sense” that lead him forward. George really had to be clever and resourceful to evade runaway hunters too. Then, the sections on the indigenous people were of great interest to me since we have tried to wipe out their history as well. It amazed me how flexible George was in participating in this life. His eventual settling in Sierra Leone was sort the “cherry on the top” ending to his life - born a slave in America, dying a free man in Africa!
I really liked George. There is no doubt a man of lesser fortitude could never have done what he did. I applaud the author in his selection of telling George’s story. He did a fine job of putting together archival records and George’s own writing (the earliest written record of a fugitive black person as the publisher points out). Also George is inspiring - his never give up attitude was amazing to me in this telling.
This is an important book as stated earlier about our country’s early history. We need to continue to expose the unseemliness and wrongness of slavery. No! black slaves came to the plantation porch to sing at night in joy and happiness with Miss Julie as portrayed in the movie Jezebel. No! they were not given skills to carry with them if set free as revisionists seem to want to portray today. David George’s story exposes the wrongness of that thinking. This is again why this is such an important book.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Publishers for allowing me to read this ARC.
#GregoryEO’Malley
#TheEscapesofDavidGeorge
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4 out of 5 stars
An intriguing tale of a man determined to escape and remain free from the confines of slavery during the American Revolution.
The study of revolutionary America generally focuses on the colonists and their fight against the British to gain independence. The examination of slavery, on the other hand, is usually saved for the nineteenth century, even though it was very much present during the American Revolution. Of course, this is a gross oversimplification of the study of American history, but certain aspects of history are associated with specific time periods. I digress. In “The Escapes of David George: An Odyssey of Slavery, Freedom, and the American Revolution,” Gregory E. O’Malley shows the strong presence of slavery during the American Revolution through the life of David George, a runaway slave. O’Malley seamlessly follows the life of David George from his escape from slavery at nineteen to his death decades later. He explores how the events of the American Revolution impacted George’s life and provided him with a story that could not be possible for a runaway slave in the following century.
O’Malley does an excellent job analyzing the life of David George and placing the runaway slave’s experiences into the context of the American Revolution. O’Malley excels in his explanations of the events unfolding around David George and how those events impacted his life. The writing is engaging and easy to follow. I did not find myself getting bored while reading this book; which can be a challenge to find with history books. It is refreshing to see a different aspect of the American Revolution. David George may not have been a part of the main action of the revolution, but his story is just as important.
This book shares an interesting tale that fits in well with the current historiography of the American Revolution. It provides a perspective that is not often covered by many historians. If you are interested in history and want a new view of familiar events, then this book is a must-read.
An intriguing tale of a man determined to escape and remain free from the confines of slavery during the American Revolution.
The study of revolutionary America generally focuses on the colonists and their fight against the British to gain independence. The examination of slavery, on the other hand, is usually saved for the nineteenth century, even though it was very much present during the American Revolution. Of course, this is a gross oversimplification of the study of American history, but certain aspects of history are associated with specific time periods. I digress. In “The Escapes of David George: An Odyssey of Slavery, Freedom, and the American Revolution,” Gregory E. O’Malley shows the strong presence of slavery during the American Revolution through the life of David George, a runaway slave. O’Malley seamlessly follows the life of David George from his escape from slavery at nineteen to his death decades later. He explores how the events of the American Revolution impacted George’s life and provided him with a story that could not be possible for a runaway slave in the following century.
O’Malley does an excellent job analyzing the life of David George and placing the runaway slave’s experiences into the context of the American Revolution. O’Malley excels in his explanations of the events unfolding around David George and how those events impacted his life. The writing is engaging and easy to follow. I did not find myself getting bored while reading this book; which can be a challenge to find with history books. It is refreshing to see a different aspect of the American Revolution. David George may not have been a part of the main action of the revolution, but his story is just as important.
This book shares an interesting tale that fits in well with the current historiography of the American Revolution. It provides a perspective that is not often covered by many historians. If you are interested in history and want a new view of familiar events, then this book is a must-read.
February 4, 2026
This book did its job in bringing attention to David George and convincing me that he was a remarkable person. He led a truly incredible life of his own making, regularly taking his well-being into his own hands and refusing to accept what initially seemed like an unavoidable and horrible life of slavery with an abusive master.
However, I struggled to get through it. This really feels like a 100 page book with a bunch of filler to get it close to that 300 page mark (including notes) that everyone seems to strive for these days. George left little behind about his life, with most of this book based on an 11 page article that appeared in a Baptist magazine. To try to fill in the gaps, explain George's reasoning, and provide context, O'Malley resorts to A LOT of speculation. It is often very repetitive speculation. He focuses in on every tiny word to analyze the meaning behind it. I understand this approach, but this is also the wording that was published after George dictated his story to someone, they tried to capture what he said, and then they edited it for publication. He didn't write this himself.
I always used to hate historical fiction but in the past few years I have really come around to it and started to see how it can really work to educate. I see David George's story as a prime candidate for this, given how much speculation is in this work of nonfiction. Each chapter could even be structured as so: relevant passage from George's article as an intro, the story, short note explaining real historical context. If anyone actually does this PLEASE send me a copy. It could be AMAZING! I think this would have been much more effective at getting the word out about this amazing man.
Bottom line: an incredible subject for a book, but it could have been written better.
However, I struggled to get through it. This really feels like a 100 page book with a bunch of filler to get it close to that 300 page mark (including notes) that everyone seems to strive for these days. George left little behind about his life, with most of this book based on an 11 page article that appeared in a Baptist magazine. To try to fill in the gaps, explain George's reasoning, and provide context, O'Malley resorts to A LOT of speculation. It is often very repetitive speculation. He focuses in on every tiny word to analyze the meaning behind it. I understand this approach, but this is also the wording that was published after George dictated his story to someone, they tried to capture what he said, and then they edited it for publication. He didn't write this himself.
I always used to hate historical fiction but in the past few years I have really come around to it and started to see how it can really work to educate. I see David George's story as a prime candidate for this, given how much speculation is in this work of nonfiction. Each chapter could even be structured as so: relevant passage from George's article as an intro, the story, short note explaining real historical context. If anyone actually does this PLEASE send me a copy. It could be AMAZING! I think this would have been much more effective at getting the word out about this amazing man.
Bottom line: an incredible subject for a book, but it could have been written better.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Escapes of David George by Gregory E O’Malley is a moving and important history book that brings attention to a life often left out of stories about the American Revolution. Instead of focusing on well-known founders, the book tells the story of David George, an enslaved Black man whose determined search for freedom reveals the deep contradictions of a country that claimed to value liberty while keeping people in slavery.
O’Malley’s main strength is how carefully he pieces together George’s life from a few but important sources, including George’s own short account. This creates a story that feels both personal and wide-ranging. Readers travel with George as he moves through different colonies, cultures, and even continents, experiencing enslavement, escape, brief freedom, recapture, and rebuilding his life. Along the way, he connects with Indigenous groups, British soldiers, Black religious leaders, and early abolitionists, showing how uncertain and interconnected freedom was at the time.
This book is emotionally challenging but important to read. O’Malley does not make suffering seem noble or turn George into just a symbol. Instead, David George comes across as a real person who makes thoughtful choices even in harsh conditions. The book sometimes moves at a slow, academic pace, so readers wanting a quick historical story might find some parts heavy. Still, the detail adds more truth and impact to the story.
The Escapes of David George looks at the American Revolution from the view of someone who truly believed in its promises, even when the country did not. It asks readers to think again about whose freedom was protected, whose was delayed, and whose was denied completely.
O’Malley’s main strength is how carefully he pieces together George’s life from a few but important sources, including George’s own short account. This creates a story that feels both personal and wide-ranging. Readers travel with George as he moves through different colonies, cultures, and even continents, experiencing enslavement, escape, brief freedom, recapture, and rebuilding his life. Along the way, he connects with Indigenous groups, British soldiers, Black religious leaders, and early abolitionists, showing how uncertain and interconnected freedom was at the time.
This book is emotionally challenging but important to read. O’Malley does not make suffering seem noble or turn George into just a symbol. Instead, David George comes across as a real person who makes thoughtful choices even in harsh conditions. The book sometimes moves at a slow, academic pace, so readers wanting a quick historical story might find some parts heavy. Still, the detail adds more truth and impact to the story.
The Escapes of David George looks at the American Revolution from the view of someone who truly believed in its promises, even when the country did not. It asks readers to think again about whose freedom was protected, whose was delayed, and whose was denied completely.
February 9, 2026
It is my fervent hope that #TheEscapesOfDavidGeorge will be able to be found and read on the bookshelves of our schools and libraries particularly as the time period begins a few years before The Revolutionary War. Author
#GregoryOMalley learns of an eleven page manuscript that was written by a black man who started his days as a slave in Virginia and based upon that scant information has developed this account based on his research through historical records of the time, place and work on this particular time frame.. At age 19 he escapes and, most, unusually, heads south through creeks and rivers. Part of his escape time was spent among the various Indian tribes particularly in the Creek territory. A particular segment I enjoyed was learning of the time he spent in Silver Bluff in South Carolina and his account focuses on his spiritual life and a reference to marrying rather than David’s description of his physical labor. Historical records seem to indicate that he was the first Black minister and started Baptist churches. During the Revolutionary War, he leaned toward the English side and, consequently, he and his young family, sought passage on an English ship which David and other black families would take them to the promise of the land of the free in cold Nova Scotia. WOW, this fact I never learned in my school studies. Many of these people would eventually take part in an even longer ship passage to Sierra Leone because of discrimination and began a new village names Freetown. This is quite a masterpiece of research on the part of Gregory O’Malley.. Thanks to #StMartinsPress and NetGalley for an ARC digital ebook; this is my honest review.
#GregoryOMalley learns of an eleven page manuscript that was written by a black man who started his days as a slave in Virginia and based upon that scant information has developed this account based on his research through historical records of the time, place and work on this particular time frame.. At age 19 he escapes and, most, unusually, heads south through creeks and rivers. Part of his escape time was spent among the various Indian tribes particularly in the Creek territory. A particular segment I enjoyed was learning of the time he spent in Silver Bluff in South Carolina and his account focuses on his spiritual life and a reference to marrying rather than David’s description of his physical labor. Historical records seem to indicate that he was the first Black minister and started Baptist churches. During the Revolutionary War, he leaned toward the English side and, consequently, he and his young family, sought passage on an English ship which David and other black families would take them to the promise of the land of the free in cold Nova Scotia. WOW, this fact I never learned in my school studies. Many of these people would eventually take part in an even longer ship passage to Sierra Leone because of discrimination and began a new village names Freetown. This is quite a masterpiece of research on the part of Gregory O’Malley.. Thanks to #StMartinsPress and NetGalley for an ARC digital ebook; this is my honest review.
February 14, 2026
The Escapes of David George: An Odyssey of Slavery, Freedom, and the American Revolution, is a powerful new book written by professor of history at UC Santa Cruz, Gregory E O'Malley. It is an amazing tale about David George who escaped from slavery numerous times, only to find himself in another form of slavery. The interesting thing about this book is that it takes place prior to and during the American Revolution ( and not the Civil War).
Having visited the African American Museum this past week in Washington DC, this story becomes even more powerful. George travels through many of the British colonies and Indian areas that existed prior to the Revolution. His story demonstrates the dehumanization that took place early on in our countries history, and reminds us that this country was built on the back of enslaved persons.
I wish I could give this book 5 stars, but I couldn’t because O’Malley needs a better editor. Too often he repeats himself in ways that become distracting to the narrative. I am sure that he just wanted to make sure we understood the plight of George and others like him, but I found that it disrupted the flow of the narrative.
Regardless, this is a book that is a MUST READ for anyone who wants to understand both sides of our history. While we are busy trying to forget the realities of slavery, O’Malley gives us a powerful look at the truth of the "peculiar institution.” We need to recognize the role that slavery played in the founding of the nation.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy of this powerful work.
Having visited the African American Museum this past week in Washington DC, this story becomes even more powerful. George travels through many of the British colonies and Indian areas that existed prior to the Revolution. His story demonstrates the dehumanization that took place early on in our countries history, and reminds us that this country was built on the back of enslaved persons.
I wish I could give this book 5 stars, but I couldn’t because O’Malley needs a better editor. Too often he repeats himself in ways that become distracting to the narrative. I am sure that he just wanted to make sure we understood the plight of George and others like him, but I found that it disrupted the flow of the narrative.
Regardless, this is a book that is a MUST READ for anyone who wants to understand both sides of our history. While we are busy trying to forget the realities of slavery, O’Malley gives us a powerful look at the truth of the "peculiar institution.” We need to recognize the role that slavery played in the founding of the nation.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy of this powerful work.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Escapes of David George is an exceptional piece of historical writing that manages to "make a mountain out of a molehill" in the best possible sense. By narrowing the focus to the lived experience of a single individual, Gregory O’Malley makes the vast, often overwhelming history of the Revolutionary era feel incredibly poignant and powerful. Through David George’s personal odyssey, the abstract concepts of liberty and survival become tangible and urgent.
One of the highlights of the book is O’Malley’s disciplined approach to the source material. He does a masterful job of separating concrete historical facts from necessary speculation, ensuring the reader knows exactly where the archival record ends and the historical context begins. This transparency adds a layer of trust and depth to the narrative.
I also particularly appreciated the author’s factual presentation of the horrors of slavery. He addresses the brutality of the institution with an honest, unwavering lens without ever veering into unnecessary or gratuitous graphic details. It is a respectful and sobering account that allows the weight of George’s struggle to speak for itself.
This is a must-read for anyone interested in a more intimate and human perspective on the American Revolution.
One of the highlights of the book is O’Malley’s disciplined approach to the source material. He does a masterful job of separating concrete historical facts from necessary speculation, ensuring the reader knows exactly where the archival record ends and the historical context begins. This transparency adds a layer of trust and depth to the narrative.
I also particularly appreciated the author’s factual presentation of the horrors of slavery. He addresses the brutality of the institution with an honest, unwavering lens without ever veering into unnecessary or gratuitous graphic details. It is a respectful and sobering account that allows the weight of George’s struggle to speak for itself.
This is a must-read for anyone interested in a more intimate and human perspective on the American Revolution.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Escapes of David George is the telling of David George escaping from slavery from the colonies. It did surprise me because he chose to run south. I hadn't read/heard of slaves escaping south before, but this was during a time when there were no free slave states in the late 1760s. David makes many stops, is captured, helped, hidden, exploited, and finally makes it out of the colonies to Sierra Leone.
During his journey for freedom, he runs through several colonies, Indigenous peoples' communities, joined the British army, and founded the first Black Baptist church. He also helped others. His story is inspiring, especially due to him fleeing slavery at the age of 19.
I plan to use this for a novel study with my students to give a new perspective on courage and determination.
I was given the opportunity to read this title by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
During his journey for freedom, he runs through several colonies, Indigenous peoples' communities, joined the British army, and founded the first Black Baptist church. He also helped others. His story is inspiring, especially due to him fleeing slavery at the age of 19.
I plan to use this for a novel study with my students to give a new perspective on courage and determination.
I was given the opportunity to read this title by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
2026_dnf
January 19, 2026This is a very interesting topic but the writing style isn’t for me. At 5% we spend pages and pages going over all the directions George could’ve gone for his first escape. I’m paraphrasing of course but the sentences are “he could’ve gone south” then there are a couple of tedious pages detailing the southern route, repeat many more times (because it isn’t limited to north south east & west- we also get southwest, northeast, on and on). The nature of this book is full of speculation and conjecture based only on oral history, and while still a very valuable story to be told, I don’t think I can hang in there for 300 pages of what he might have done. This might appeal to serious historians but I’m a more casual nonfiction reader and was hoping for a more gripping piece of narrative nonfiction. For those reasons, I’m DNFing at 10%. I appreciate the digital copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher and hope this book finds its audience!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Going into this I'd never heard of David George before. Wow, what a fascinating and tragic life he lived as a man escaping slavery multiple times and all the harsh trials he endured for freedom. This book explores how difficult it was to escape slavery and explores slavery in America during the Revolutionary War. I enjoyed getting to explore the war through the lens of an escaped slave, giving a new angle to how I've normally read about the war and this time period. And David's life is a needed reminder that the founders did not think that all men were created equal.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in David George or slavery during the Revolutionary War and learning more about forgotten voices.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this wonderful read.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in David George or slavery during the Revolutionary War and learning more about forgotten voices.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this wonderful read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
THE ESCAPES OF DAVID GEORGE takes us back to Colonial America. We follow David George, a man born into slavery, through the American Revolution and beyond, as he resists slavery and finds his way to freedom multiple times.
David was a determined, resilient man who deserves to have his story known.
The research here is impeccable. The author carefully recreates the environment in which David lived, letting readers experience the era so we truly understand the stakes involved.
This book is part biography and part history, and completely fascinating.
*Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the free eARC, provided via NetGalley.*
David was a determined, resilient man who deserves to have his story known.
The research here is impeccable. The author carefully recreates the environment in which David lived, letting readers experience the era so we truly understand the stakes involved.
This book is part biography and part history, and completely fascinating.
*Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the free eARC, provided via NetGalley.*
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. When we think of slavery, the 1800s normally come to mind. David George, however, lived during the time of the Revolutionary War. His story is considered one of the very first accounts of life as an enslaved person. He is also considered one of the first black Baptist ministers to be in charge of a congregation. His parents were taken from Africa and brought to the colonies in the early 1700s, where George was born on a southern plantation. He witnessed brutality and cruelty at a very young age until he finally decided to run. Author Gregory E. O'Malley did a good job piecing together the life of David George. With only George's brief account to go by, O'Malley was able to research the era and tell the amazing story of a man who dared to run. During the Colonial uprising, the British government offered freedom to all enslaved people willing to join their cause. Prior to this, David George learned how to read and found faith when traveling Baptist ministers came to preach. He wanted to preach the gospel as well so he formed a church and ministered to his people. His travels took him to Nova Scotia, England, and Sierra Leone. A fascinating man, he rose above his circumstances, to care for others, and leave his story behind to inspire the rest of us. This was a very interesting read and I do recommend the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm shocked people aren't aware of slavery in the colonies. It didn't just pop into the Old South in the 1800's. Unfortunately, David George, had a more tumultuous time than most people in the same situation. Slavery was not only brought to bare on African Americans, but Native Americans and "whites" as well. As for the book, David George's story is harrowing and no one should ever have to endure what he did! It's hard to enjoy a book with such a distasteful subject, however the writing was well done with an obviously strong protagonist.
February 4, 2026
David George escapes from a plantation in Virginia, and for decades, he is on the run and help captive in various places. He is offered freedom joining the British Army. He founds a church, and eventually helps form a settlement in Nova Scotia. Eventually, he finds his way to Sierra Leone where is the leader of an anti-slavery community. What a riveting life- and rivetingly shared. Must read history.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a free copy of, The Escapes of David George, by Gregory E. O'Malley, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. David George was a slave in the 1700's, who escaped more then once. This was an interesting read, i had never heard Of David George before, I read this book.
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January 31, 2026Releases 2/3/2026, I read an advanced reader copy. An odyssey indeed. Set in the colonial and revolutionary periods, follows the life journey and the escapes of an enslaved man - David George. Seemingly well researched and very well written. Like reading a novel in its story arc and character.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
very interesting history and worth your time.
January 30, 2026
Very good story in describing one man’s life of slavery and his desire to be emancipated through multiple escapes and preaching to all people.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an interesting examination of slavery in the U.S. during the Revolutionary Era, as seen through the lens of an escaped slave, David George.
I found the premise intriguing, since I haven't read much about slavery in the pre-Civil War era. We all just know that the founding fathers were owners, etc. This telling, which is based on the diary of David George, gives readers a peek into what was happening at that time.
George's personal story is thrilling. He did escape several times, eventually winning his freedom and moving to Canada, where there was a community of freed slaves who tried to build a new life. He eventually left that community too, where he still faced racism and restrictions, as well as other harsh challenges in general community building.
While the story and details were fascinating, I did feel like this was unnecessarily bulky. There's a lot of extra to paint the scene, and plenty of surmising about what George must have thought, done, etc. I think the narrative would have worked better as a tighter piece focusing more specifically on the protagonist.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Gregory O'Malley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.
#TheEscapesOfDavidGeorge
#GregoryOMalley
#StMartinsPress
I found the premise intriguing, since I haven't read much about slavery in the pre-Civil War era. We all just know that the founding fathers were owners, etc. This telling, which is based on the diary of David George, gives readers a peek into what was happening at that time.
George's personal story is thrilling. He did escape several times, eventually winning his freedom and moving to Canada, where there was a community of freed slaves who tried to build a new life. He eventually left that community too, where he still faced racism and restrictions, as well as other harsh challenges in general community building.
While the story and details were fascinating, I did feel like this was unnecessarily bulky. There's a lot of extra to paint the scene, and plenty of surmising about what George must have thought, done, etc. I think the narrative would have worked better as a tighter piece focusing more specifically on the protagonist.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Gregory O'Malley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.
#TheEscapesOfDavidGeorge
#GregoryOMalley
#StMartinsPress
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a meticulously researched biography of an intelligent, charismatic, strong, young enslaved man and his attempts to find freedom despite a powerful system preventing him from doing so. It explores the impact of religion, family ties and community on David George's life, and offers a perspective of early America, its customs and geography, and an understanding of the American Revolution from the point of view of someone other than a founding father. I am grateful to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Mr. Gregory E. O'Malley, who provided me with an advanced reader copy of this inspiring book. This is my honest opinion.
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