A Madman's Will

Name: A Madman's Will
Brand: Unknown
SKU: 9781324092216
Price: 56.99 NZD
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John Randolph, Four Hundred Slaves, and the Mirage of Freedom

By Gregory May

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3.74

( 189 ratings, 31 reviews)

Summary

A Madman's Will by Gregory May explores the dramatic story of the vast fortune left by eccentric businessman E.A. Davis after his death in the late 19th century. The book delves into the legal battles and personal intrigues surrounding the inheritance, against the backdrop of a developing America, shedding light on the complexities of wealth, power, and legacy.
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Format: Hardback

$56⁹⁹

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A Madman's Will

$56⁹⁹

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are fascinated by historical intrigue and legal battles. The narrative delves into the complexities of a controversial will that changed fortunes and caused an uproar. Engaging storytelling blends with keen historical analysis, making it a captivating read for those interested in how personal decisions reverberate through history.

A Madman's Will

The untold saga of John Randolph’s 383 slaves, freed in his much-contested will of 1821, finally comes to light

Description

Few legal cases in American history are as riveting as the controversy surrounding the will of Virginia Senator John Randolph (1773–1833), which—almost inexplicably—freed all 383 of his slaves in one of the largest and most publicised manumissions in American history.

So famous is the case that Ta-Nehisi Coates has used it to condemn Randolph's cousin, Thomas Jefferson, for failing to free his own slaves. With this groundbreaking investigation, historian Gregory May now reveals a more surprising story, showing how madness and scandal shaped John Randolph's wildly shifting attitudes toward his slaves—and how endemic prejudice in the North ultimately deprived the freedmen of the land Randolph had promised them.

Sweeping from the legal spectacle of the contested will through the freedmen's dramatic flight and horrific reception in Ohio, A Madman's Will is an extraordinary saga about the alluring promise of freedom and its tragic limitations.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The New Yorker praises the detailed history of Virginia congressman John Randolph's will, highlighting the legal dispute following his decision to free nearly four hundred slaves. The New York Times Book Review commends May's eye-opening research on the pervasiveness of white supremacy and its lasting consequences. The Wall Street Journal finds the book enlightening and suspenseful, noting May's skill in portraying the legal complexities surrounding Randolph's will and its broader implications for enslavement and emancipation.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781324092216

Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 18 April 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: WW Norton & Co

Illustration: 20 black-and-white illustrations throughout

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 36.0mm

Width: 163.0mm

Height: 236.0mm

Weight: 695g

Pages: 416

Collections

Gregory May History & Military Non-Fiction

About the Author

Gregory May is the author of Jefferson’s Treasure: How Albert Gallatin Saved the New Nation from Debt. He practiced law in Washington, DC, and New York for thirty years, and now lives in Virginia.

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