He Shall Go Out Free: The Lives of Denmark Vesey

by Douglas R. Egerton

Book Overview

In this biography of the great rebel leader Denmark Vesey, Douglas R. Egerton employs a variety of historical sources-church records, court documents, travel accounts, and newspapers from America and Saint Domingue-to recreate the lost world of the mysterious Vesey. The revised edition is updated throughout, and includes a new section addressing the recent debate over the conspiracy of 1822.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0742542238
• ISBN13: 9780742542235
• Release Date: December 2004
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.4" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Good Start

I enjoyed the book and would encourage my folks to read it. It is so hard to get an unbiased history of Denmark Vesey. I am looking for African descened historians to give me an accurate picture. Considering the author isn't a black historian, he gives a pretty, fair and balanced view of Denmark. I believe the truth is a problem for many people, but I am relatively satisfied this book. It is beyond belief that some folks would have a problem with enslaved humans rising up and slaughtering thoe with their foot on their necks. These same people don't seem to having a problem with the the whites slaughtering, maiming, and raping, terrorizing and working to death the Africans. Go figure! I highly recommend.

Interesting and Accurate

The Lives of Denmark Vesey is a story of an atypical slave (Telemaque) born in the Caribbean who ends up in Charleston, South Carolina by the time he's sixteen. Vesey, having learned three languages, was extremely intelligent compared to slaves of his time and would later lead a slave revolt in Charleston. Douglas Egerton does a great job of vividly describing Charleston and many of its inhabitants in the early 19th century. This interesting and astonishing book about a slave in the early 1800s is very accurate and truthfully coincides with many historians living in Charleston today. I recently did a report comparing Egerton's book to various sources of the known history of Charleston in the late 18th and early 19th century, and Egerton's book hits on all the main aspects of Charleston. The buzzard and manure infested streets and the large "underground" slave population that roamed the streets at night are just a few of the characteristics of Charleston Egerton accurately hits on. Props to Egerton on an interesting and accurate story about a monumental aspect of Charleston's history.

Outstanding Work

This was an extraordinary book. Douglas Egerton does a marvelous job of telling the different lives of Denmark Vesey. The book is extremely well researched and tells the historical truth of Vesey's life. The author does a wonderful job of finding the true story of Denmark Vesey and incorporates intriging insights into his life. This is a wonderful book that illustrates what life was like for a dynamic slave who turned free. Egerton tells Vesey's story in a fascinating way and does a great job of recapturing Vesey's life. The author tells of how Vesey was a strong-willed, highly intelligent leader who had an ingenious plot to help slaves and free blacks to truly become free. The author shows how fascinating Vesey was even though his plan failed. This is a marvelous book and I highly recomend reading it! It is an absolute joy to read!

STRONGLY Reccomend Reading!

This book is dynamic and I highly recomend reading it. It is wonderfully written with extaordinary prose. The author does a superb job of bringing the readers into the time period and a wonderful jog of telling Vesey's story. Engaging diction and syntax keep the readers alive. There is not a dull moment in this book. Every page is filled th wonderful insights surrounding the times of the book. This book is a must have for people of all interests.I highly recommend reading it and sharing it with a friend. Douglas Egerton does a fascinating job of telling the history of Vesey's life and atmosphere!