Making Freedom: The Extraordinary Life of Venture Smith

The inspiring story of an 18th-century New England slave who emancipated himself

Making Freedom is the first in-depth exploration of the life of Venture Smith (1728–1805), a New England slave who was sold into bondage as a boy in Africa and labored for nearly a quarter-century before purchasing his own freedom and transforming himself into a highly respected American citizen. Drawing on years of research and documentation, including Venture Smith's rare personal autobiography, Saint and Krimsky vividly recount the extraordinary challenges he overcame. They cast a rare light on what it was like to be an African American in the north during the Colonial era. This story's relevance today prompted the BBC to produce a documentary on scholars' efforts to learn more about Venture Smith, his life, and family. The book includes a wealth of illustrations, a timeline, and Smith's original 1798 narrative in facsimile form.

CHANDLER B. SAINT is president of the Beecher House Center for the Study of Equal Rights in Torrington, Connecticut. GEORGE A. KRIMSKY is a journalist and author, also residing in Connecticut. JAMES O. HORTON teaches history and American studies at George Washington University. The author of many books, he serves as a consultant to The History Channel, Discovery Channel, PBS, and ABC.