John Brown

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-Each of these closely related titles treats its subject from birth to death, examining the impact of the man's life and work within the context of his times and beyond. Douglass's youth is described in detail, with almost half the book devoted to his significant formative years as a slave in Maryland, his escape from bondage, and his gradual development into a charismatic antislavery orator and leader. The story of Brown's equally dramatic adult life as a violent abolitionist is framed by his descent from early Puritan settlers and Revolutionary War veterans and the culture of slavery that was very much in existence during his boyhood in Connecticut. Both volumes have relevant sidebars, illustrations, reproductions, and photographs. Each book contains the same illustrated preface describing the causes of the Civil War. Together, these titles provide useful and accessible resources for information about two significant figures of the era, but libraries with limited budgets should note that there is some overlapping coverage between them.-Starr E. Smith, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.