The Liberty Line: The Legend of the Underground Railroad

by Larry Gara

Determines the factual basis of the legends surrounding the Underground Railroad through close study of abolitionist works and first-hand accounts

Genres: History

Paperback

First published March 1, 1996

About the author

Larry Garza was emeritus professor of history at Wilmington College, where he taught from 1962 through 1992.

Reviews

[Lynne Ellen]

Whether it's the 30 year old dating or the 60 year old dating of this work, it was a tough read for me.

[Marley]

Despite owning the book for years and knowing the author, Larry Gara, from Ohio Academy of History meetings, I didn't read this book until last week. I'm sorry I waited so long. Gara deconstructs the myth of the Underground Railroad (an understandably attractive myth)as more propaganda than fact. At the same time, he discusses the less romantic and less dangerous but much more important work of the abolitionist/anti-slavery movement, especially the role that free blacks and former slaves played. Surprise! Abolition wasn't all about white folks!

[Roger]

Gara overstates the importance of the "straw man" he sets up concerning the organization of the Underground Railroad. My reading of the Underground Railroad is that everyone understood its transient nature and the local nature of it. But, there can be no doubt that its existence, however nebulous, influenced Americans north and south.