Frederick Douglass

Robert Sevra does an excellent job of narrating this detailed, scholarly biography of Douglass. McFeely, who won a Pulitzer for his biography of Grant, provides a multifaceted portrait of Douglass, including some psychological musings about his early days in slavery and a thorough examination of the rivalries and philosophies of the abolitionists. However, it provides less than one would expect on the Civil War. The volume's length, the lack of footnotes, and the multitude of characters make it less than ideal in audio format. T.R. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

May 1, 1994
Frederick Douglass, one of the noblest of 19th-century figures, recounted his life in three autobiographies. The first and most compelling, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845), is indespensable for its moving account of his self-education under slavery and his escape to the North. But in the achievements of Douglass's long and active career there are complex social, political, and psychological issues that his self-portraits alone cannot entirely encompass. In attempting to do justice to these issues, Pulitzer Prize-winning author McFeely has written a brilliant book that ranks with the finest achievements in 20th-century biography. In faultless prose, backed by intensive scholarship, McFeely steers a level course through Douglass's turbulent odyssey as the nation's leading orator and figurehead of the strife-ridden antislavery and Civil Rights movements. In subjecting Douglass's words and deeds to keen and concise analysis at practically every turn, McFeely reveals Douglass's personal vanities and political indiscretions, but after surviving the close scrutiny, Douglass's greatness stands that much more secure. Robert Sevra's flawless narration makes this a program that, along with Douglass's Narrative, is a must for every collection.-Peter Josyph, New York

Copyright 1994 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.