The Fearless Benjamin Lay: The Quaker Dwarf Who Became the First Revolutionary Abolitionist, with a New Preface and Afterword

By Marcus Rediker

Book Overview

Renowned historian Marcus Rediker chronicles the transatlantic life and times of a singular man-Benjamin Lay (1682-1759)-a Quaker dwarf who demanded the total, unconditional emancipation of all enslaved Africans around the world. Mocked by his contemporaries, Lay was a visionary who practiced the ideals of democracy and equality an astonishing three hundred years ago. Insisting that human bondage violated the principles of Christianity, Lay often performed colorful guerrilla theater to shame slave masters. His revolutionary life embodied the proclamation "no justice, no peace." Rediker not only captures Lay's legacy with passion and historical rigor; he has already helped to change his historical standing with this biography. Since the publication of The Fearless Benjamin Lay, the Abington Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends and the North London Quaker Meeting, two of the communities that disowned Lay in the eighteenth century, have now publicly embraced his spirit, ideals, and memory. Book jacket.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0807060984
• ISBN13: 9780807060988
• Release Date: September 2018
• Publisher: Beacon Press
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 1.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Determined Quaker leads the way

I had not hear of Benjamin Lay. I was fascinated with his persistence, determination to stick to his Quaker values, and his willingness to challenge other Quakers who did not live up to what they professed. He was a short man and not very handsome. His personality and convictions made him fearless and a larger than life presence as someone who worked for the abolition of slavery, inclusion of everyone, and the elimination of materialism. I found the book a bit slow. I sometimes got bogged down by the quotes and Benjamin Lay's style of writing. Still, those quotes show that the book is well researched and documented. Anyone looking for inspiration to live out his/her values should read this and be inspired by Benjamin Lay.