Showing results by author "William Wells" in All Categories

Clotel; or, The President’s Daughter is rooted not only in the horrific reality of institutional slavery but also in the historical fact of Thomas Jefferson’s relationship with the enslaved Sally Hemings (here represented by the character Currer). In William Wells Brown’s telling, Currer has two daughters by Jefferson, Clotel and Althesa. Both become Jefferson’s legal property when they are born, and both wind up at auction - along with their mother - when Jefferson dies.

Experience the remarkable journey of William Wells Brown, born into the bonds of slavery in Lexington, Kentucky. With a mother who was enslaved and a father who never acknowledged him, Brown escaped at the age of 20 and forged a path as a steamboatman and conductor for the Underground Railroad in Buffalo, New York. In 1843, he became a prominent lecturer for the Western New York Anti-Slavery Society, standing alongside contemporaries like Frederick Douglass. In 1849, driven by a mission to garner British support for the American anti-slavery movement, Brown set sail for Europe, where he would ...

William Wells Brown, born into slavery near Lexington, Kentucky, embarked on a remarkable journey to freedom and activism. The son of a slave mother and an unacknowledged white father, Brown escaped at around age 20 and dedicated his life to the abolitionist cause. Working as a steamboatman and a conductor on the Underground Railroad in Buffalo, New York, he became a prominent lecturer for the Western New York Anti-Slavery Society, standing alongside figures like Frederick Douglass. In 1849, he traveled to Europe to rally British support for the anti-slavery movement, returning in 1854 after ...

Being an English author in a new and different culture seems to work its magic when these two are placed together in the same spot with a rich vocabulary; ideas seem more fully formed and characters have another edge to their existence. For the outsider looking in, more can be revealed and shared with ourselves.

The world since earliest times has always had spies. Information is a valuable commodity and even more so in times of war or tension. Many authors and poets have had real life incarnations as spies from Christopher Marlowe and Aphra Behn to Daniel Defoe. But it’s a dangerous game. Working in a murky, secretive world where any trust given could be at the expense of your life.

The London Classics Collection: Stories of the City allows you to step into the heart of London with a curated selection of iconic literary works that explore the soul of one of the world's most fascinating cities. From the smoky alleys of Victorian London to the political upheavals of the 20th century, this collection brings together stories that capture the city's rich history, diverse characters, and unflinching reflections on society.