The Black Hearts of Men (Magill’s Literary Annual 1991-2005)
At a glance:
- Author: John Stauffer
- First Published: 2002
- Type of Work: Biography and history
- Time of Work: 1835-1874
- Setting: New York State, Kansas, and Virginia
- Principal Characters: Gerritt Smith, James McCune Smith, Frederick Douglass, John Brown
- Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography
- Subjects: Virginia, New York, United States or Americans, Politics, Abolitionists, Nineteenth century, Slavery or slaves, Interracial relationships, Friendship, Kansas, Photography or photographers, Idealism, Heroes or heroism, Reformers, Terrorism or terrorists, Morality or morals, Philanthropy or philanthropists
- Locales: Virginia, New York, Kansas
John Stauffer’s The Black Hearts of Men is a story of social idealism and friendship in nineteenth century America. Its protagonists are four radical opponents of slavery, two black and two white, two major historical figures and two almost forgotten. Gerritt Smith is presented as the central character in the alliance of the four. Smith was a wealthy resident of the state of New York, a U.S. congressman for a time, and an abolitionist. James McCune Smith was a graduate of the University of Glasgow in Scotland and the first black professional physician in the United States....
[The entire page is 1986 words long]
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