The Slave Narratives of Texas - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1880510367 ISBN 13: 9781880510360

Publisher: State House Pr, 1997

Synopsis

Many defenders of slavery have maintained that the slaves in Texas were well-treated and happy, but as a former slave remarked, "Tisn't he who has stood and looked on, that can tell you what slavery is—'tis he who has endured." Here are the tales of those who have endured—a collection of the voices of the ex- slaves themselves, recalling what their lives were like under slavery. Over one hundred former slaves describe their slavemasters, their work, runaway slaves, their recollections of the Civil War and, finally, the coming of freedom. The narratives were collected by WPA interviewers in the late 1930s and subsequently edited by Ron Tyler and Lawrence R. Murphy.The Slave Narratives of Texas is a highly informative and readable book that provides a valuable history of the institution of slavery in Texas. It is also a profoundly moving text which yields great insight into the full impact of slavery upon human lives.

About this title

Review

"An engaging book that makes an important contribution to the cultural history of Texas." -- Texas Books in Review

"An interesting glimpse into a way of life in early Texas that until now has gone virtually unrecorded. . . ." -- Leonard Sanders, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Highly recommended reading." -- Midwest Book Review>/I>

"Importance of the 1997 reprinting...would be hard to overstate...meticulously edited." -- Kent Biffle, Dallas Morning News

"One of the pioneer studies in Texas African-American history." -- Southwestern Historical Quarterly

"The stories are fascinating." -- Robert E. Ford, Associated Press

"These narratives are a historical treasure." -- Permian Historical Annual

Edition details

• Publisher: State House Pr
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1880510367
• ISBN 13: 9781880510360
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 143
• Editor: Tyler Ronnie C., Murphy Lawrence R.