Steal Away Home: One Woman's Epic Flight to Freedom - And Her Long Road Back to the South

by Karolyn Smardz Frost

In this compelling work of narrative non-fiction, Governor General’s Award winner Karolyn Smardz Frost captures Cecelia’s epic story of courage. She was a teenager when she made her dangerous bid for freedom. Escape meant that she would never see her mother or brother again. She would be cut off from Fanny, the young mistress with whom she grew up, but who also owned her. This was a time when people could be property, and when a beloved father could be separated from his wife and children, to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Cecelia found a new life in Toronto’s vibrant African-American expatriate community. There she fell in love with her dashing rescuer, and initiated a correspondence with her former owner that would endure for more than two decades. Widowed, she braved the Fugitive Slave Law to cross back into the United States. When she eventually returned to the Kentucky she had known as a child, she found her home much changed in the wake of war. Reunited with her mother, Cecelia also renewed her complicated relationship with her former mistress. After years apart, the two lived within a few blocks of each other until Fanny’s death.

Smardz Frost’s impeccable research and vivid description takes the reader through the Civil War, the shameful backdrop of slavery and the very real and stirring tale of one woman’s struggle for freedom—and her return to her former home on her own terms, despite the risk involved.

 

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Canada, History

432 pages, Hardcover

Published January 24, 2017

About the author

Karolyn Smardz Frost is an archaeologist, historian, educator, and author specializing in African American/Canadian transnationalism. She is Senior Research Fellow for the Harriet Tubman Institute, York University, Toronto, and a Harrison McCain Visiting Professor at Nova Scotia’s Acadia University. Her biography of fugitive slaves Thornton and Lucie Blackburn, I’ve Got a Home in Glory Land: A Lost Tale of the Underground Railroad, won the Governor General’s Award for Non-Fiction, Canada’s highest literary honor.

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Born into slavery in Louisville, Kentucky, at the age of 15 Cecelia escaped across the Niagara River to settled in Toronto. This nonfictional account of her life follows her through the Underground Railroad, to England, husbands, children, step-children, the rise and loss of fortunes, the Civil War, and full circle back to Kentucky. A meticulously researched narrative, this book is a terrific historical collection of facts woven into a compelling story of one woman’s courage and fight for freedom.

[Juniper · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is a vital work, incredibly researched, and finely detailed. it made for an interesting read, and an excellent book group discussion. but.... (sorry! it is totally minor)... it was a slog of a read for me. every page is densely packed with information, and detail after detail. there was no good rhythm or flow to it for me. so while i feel very good for having great the book, and learning so much through the author's research, i didn't particularly love the ride. (again, VERY minor 'yeah, but...')

this is such important work, so my slogging through the read should not be interpreted as dislike. i do recommend it, in fact. and especially so if it is being read in the context of a book club. smardz frost offers a great profile of not only one woman, but of those around her, and the era she lived through. the author is quite a talented academic, on top of being an award-winning author. one of her fields of specialty is archaeology. unearthing the history to create this book was definitely a work of excavation. and while we can't fill some of the holes that exist - because there is just no way to know - i deeply appreciated the fact that smardz frost refrained from supposition and inference. if something was not factually supported by evidence, she did not guess, or imagine. (though those moments certainly left me curious, wondering about outcomes.)

[Mary Ellen Anaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. One woman's fight for freedom. I learned so much about the Underground Railroad, reading this book. Cecelia's escape to Canada, living in Toronto. Black Canadians and Black Americans, their fight for freedom and equality. To be treated with respect and dignity. So much history surrounding Cecelia and her family and their involvement in the Underground Railway. The Civil War, The Civil Rights movement. Highly recommend this book.

[Leanne Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

The amount of research put into this book, is phenomenal. The heart and soul put into this book, is deep and genuine. This is one of the most detailed and well-written books on Black History that I have ever read. I took my time with it and read it slowly and carefully. Nothing about it, made me want to rush through it.
It absolutely deserved to win the Governor General’s Award for Non-Fiction. I am so disappointed I wasn’t able to meet Ms. Frost when she was in town for her book signing ... I would have loved to shake her hand and talk to her about this incredible book.

[Ted Dettweiler · Rating 4 out of 5]

By tracing the history and lineage of one fugitive slave, Cecelia, the author is able to treat many aspects of black history in North America in the 19th century. The connections to places I know: St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Peterborough and Chatham were a highlight for me, giving me a greater depth of understanding of their place in history. Extensive documentation of sources throughout the book. I greatly appreciate the work of this author.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have gained so much knowledge of our ancestors by reading this book. Thanks to the author, this extremely well researched novel gives us a glimpse into the struggles that they faced in the 1800’s. A thought sticks in my mind, what if Cecelia and her family had stayed in Toronto on that property on Centre street and not ventured back to the US.? The Underground Railroad history continues to fascinate me.

[Golfergirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cecelia’s story takes us full circle from her escape and eventually back to the owner she escaped from. It is interesting to see the relationship between the slave and the mistress. In another time or place it seems they may have been friends. A lot of the hardships the escaping slaves faced were the same faced by everyone who didn’t have access to money. But they endured the added burden of racial discrimination . The descriptions of life in Toronto were very interesting. At one time I lived very near where they settled. I had absolutely no idea there had been an African Canadian community there. I felt for the young men and women who struggled for an education or a trade. They worked hard to establish themselves and it seemed it could all be taken away from them on a whim. The saddest part is we don’t seem to have made a huge amount of progress. I look forward to the book club discussion.

[Caroline Mcphail-Lambert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story of Celia Reynolds who at 15 escaped slavery to Canada. Not the story I thought it would be, but I think that is due to the constraints of the amount of information about this woman. Shows the importance of keeping historical records. Sad facts about how horrible humans can be to other humans.

[Virginia Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

Born into slavery in Louisville, Kentucky, at the age of 15 Cecelia escaped across the Niagara River to settled in Toronto, in the area known as The Ward. This book follows her life through two husbands, the birth and lose of children and step-children, the rise and fall of fortunes and several moves before she ends up back in Kentucky after the Civil War. A meticulously researched work of narrative non-fiction, this book sets the life of one and her descendants in the social context of a changing new world.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narrative non-fiction is not my usual thing, but this was very good. I look forward to seeing the author at the 1000 Islands Writers Festival on May 6. Intriguing, and sometimes shocking piece of Canadian history.

[Augusta Dwyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don’t need to have a lot of knowledge about, or even a particular interest in, history to savour this book. The author tells the story of Cecelia Jane Reynolds in such an engaging style, readers will be turning the pages to find out more about her life. And what a fascinating life it was. Her daring escape from slavery to freedom in Canada, her marriages and travels, joys and pain, are almost like a work of fiction. The fact that Cecelia corresponded with her young ‘owner’ for many years also sheds a light on the humanity of both women, communicating with each other across a deep divide, yet indelibly linked by their unusual relationship.

Add the many stories of Cecelia’s neighbours, friends, and family into the mix, and you have a truly enthralling narrative.

However, within those real life stories is an abundance of historical detail that Smardz Frost handles with ease. She both knows her stuff, inside and out, and writes with confidence and craft.

The result is a book that offers the best of both worlds, amazing human drama and a solid understanding of the history, all of it beautifully written.

[Janetgardner33 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot express how much this book moved me and educated me. It provides a broad perspective on the history of slavery, the Underground Railroad, racism, politics and much more. It is meticulously researched but is nuanced so that it reads as a sweeping story.
Even more importantly it documents the life of an amazing, strong and resilient woman, along with her ancestors and descendants.
I had the opportunity to be part of all this recording and telling, as a member of the archaeological team that excavated the first Canadian home of Cecelia. For those of you who read the book, you will know of what I speak when I say that I was the one who excavated the dog burial. I was moved to tears realizing the intimacy of my connection to her life and family.

[Kelly Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree that the amount of research that went in to this book was beyond Incredible, however I found that it made it too deep of a read. I like to read at the end of the night before bed but I found the weight of the immense detail in this book made it hard to keep my mind focused. The story is very interesting, and the characters are very moving, but I prefer a writing style with a lot less specific dates, and times, and characters. I love books based on history, and especially black history, but this one could not hold my interest for more than an hour at a time. I’m afraid to say I did not finish this book. I put it back on the shelf before I reached the 1/4 mark.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a period in history that has always fascinated me. I've read several books about the underground railroad and had a number of picture books in my classroom collection that related to that topic as well. Steal Away Home is a meticulously researched true story. I enjoyed the book a lot but found that the research was, at times, almost overwhelming in its detail. Still, it was a worthy read.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is hard to read but it is so interesting. I had one finger on the footnote section and kept going to it. It took a long for me to read and I stopped for a while before I got back to the last 50 pages. There is so much more in the book that I could read (as in all of the footnotes). It was so well researched. I believe it was 8 years of research and writing! I have it four stars but maybe it should be three. It reads like a history textbook. Fascinating though.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a book here, but it feels less about the main person and title of the book than just a history of Black people throughout North America. While the larger history is written well, it's still a frustrating read as the author avoids any questioning of the main characters and potential controversy and layers so much family that should have ended the book much sooner. For someone who wanted to dig into a life, she casually avoids anything she doesn't like.

[Orla Hegarty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fascinating account of one woman's journey on the underground railway into Canada and her life beyond that time. It got a little bogged down with details of names and places but having grown up and lived in Toronto I learned a lot about a time and place in Toronto's history that I didn't know before.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much history about Black Canadian that I didn't know, as well a different view of the underground railway that the one I learned as a child. Eye opening. But also so many names, especially towards the end of the book, of people that somehow seemed a bit peripheral to the story. And I am at a loss as to why people would return to a place they had escaped. Worth the read.

[Christina Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible research into the original woman, her two husbands, and their descendants. Great historical context for all. Really makes these traditionally “invisible” ordinary people come alive. Great addition to African-Canadian history.

[GailJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant, passionate history.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting tale.

[Spiveystrange · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative though a bit dry for a casual read.

[Claire Bull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and interesting book with so much information and really enjoyed taking my time reading this one. I loved it !

[Judy]

I gave up on this one. It is written too much like a history text book.

[Jennifer]

Cecelia Reynolds managed to escape the bonds of her slavery during a trip to the Niagara Falls with her master and his family. She had carefully put the details of her escape into play long before the trip was made due to connections in Washington DC and other towns that she “visited” with her owners. After a harrowing escape her life as a free woman was to begin in Toronto. Here she would find a job, marry, and raise a family. She never forgot the life and people she left behind though and years after her escape, she wrote to her former owner and inquired on her mother and brother. This is a non-fictional accounting of Cecelia’s life as it was documented in property records, census, marriages, newspapers, letters, and government documents. Ms Frost does take some liberty suspecting what Cecelia felt where facts and documents are lacking but overall this is an incredible work of research. Through sheer dedication, she has managed to tell an incredible tale of an undeniably strong, intelligent woman who was determined to make something of her life and to be in charge of it.