Recommended Reading on Nat Turner

[hanna260]

I know... I know... there are probably threads galore on this subject (blame lots of homework for not being able to keep up ), and I am a little worried about stirring the pot (don't mean to flame-bait), but I did hear that the film got good reviews at Sundance and now, I'm curious about his life. Are there any good biographies or books that cover the general time period and mention him? I haven't delved as much into this aspect of the ACW as I would like to, and I would like to learn more about him.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Believe it or not there really are not many threads on Nat Turner? How odd. Well, you see how it is here, no one likes to argue with each other. Having said that there are bound to be members here who have the best source material- experts here on everyone of the era. Turner isn't quite ' era ' but quite relevant to it.

I've witnessed threads on enslaved uprisings which did not go very well- it's possible no one wishes to be that exhausted again? Important topic though, funny there are not more.

 

[Dave Wilma]

Film is entertainment, not history. If the film happens to get the history right, kudos. The best impact of a film like this is to generate interest in history such as the OP has expressed. People can read more. The drama about Washington crossing the Delaware starring Jeff Daniels includes the star at the end giving recommended readings. That's the way to teach history.

 

[cash]

Kenneth Greenberg's book, Nat Turner: A Slave Rebellion in History and Memory looks pretty good.

https://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=9309

 

[E_just_E]

You are in luck

There is a brand new book on the subject, released in January by Patrick Breen (Associate Prof. of History in Providence College) titled The Land Shall Be Deluged in Blood: A New History of the Nat Turner Revolt. Breen has been lecturing on Turner for a while and the book is meticulously researched. Highly recommended.

 

[hanna260]

Thanks everyone, mightily for the replies!

 

[civilken]

Thank you for the tip.