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Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award "Impeccably
researched and seductively readable...tells the story of Sam
Sharpe's revolution manque, and the subsequent abolition of slavery
in Jamaica, in a way that's acutely relevant to the racial unrest
of our own time." -Madison Smartt Bell, author of All Souls' Rising
The final uprising of enslaved people in Jamaica started as a
peaceful labor strike a few days shy of Christmas in 1831. A harsh
crackdown by white militias quickly sparked a full-blown revolt,
leaving hundreds of plantation houses in smoking ruins. The rebels
lost their daring bid for freedom, but their headline-grabbing
defiance triggered a decisive turn against slavery. Island on Fire
is a dramatic day-by-day account of these transformative events. A
skillful storyteller, Tom Zoellner uses diaries, letters, and
colonial records to tell the intimate story of the men and women
who rose up and briefly tasted liberty. He brings to life the
rebellion's enigmatic leader, the preacher Samuel Sharpe, and shows
how his fiery resistance turned the tide of opinion in London and
hastened the end of slavery in the British Empire. "Zoellner's
vigorous, fast-paced account brings to life a varied gallery of
participants...The revolt failed to improve conditions for the
enslaved in Jamaica, but it crucially wounded the institution of
slavery itself." -Fergus M. Bordewich, Wall Street Journal "It's
high time that we had a book like the splendid one Tom Zoellner has
written: a highly readable but carefully documented account of the
greatest of all British slave rebellions, the miseries that led to
it, and the momentous changes it wrought." -Adam Hochschild, author
of Bury the Chains
Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award "Tom Zoellner
tells the story of Sam Sharpe's revolution manque, and the
subsequent abolition of slavery in Jamaica, in a way that's acutely
relevant to the racial unrest of our own time. Island on Fire is
impeccably researched and seductively readable."-Madison Smartt
Bell, author of All Souls' Rising From a New York Times bestselling
author, a gripping account of the slave rebellion that led to the
abolition of slavery in the British Empire. For five horrific weeks
after Christmas in 1831, Jamaica was convulsed by an uprising of
its enslaved people. What started as a peaceful labor strike
quickly turned into a full-blown revolt, leaving hundreds of
plantation houses in smoking ruins. By the time British troops had
put down the rebels, more than a thousand Jamaicans lay dead from
summary executions and extrajudicial murder. While the rebels lost
their military gamble, their sacrifice accelerated the larger
struggle for freedom in the British Atlantic. The daring and
suffering of the Jamaicans galvanized public opinion throughout the
empire, triggering a decisive turn against slavery. For centuries
bondage had fed Britain's appetite for sugar. Within two years of
the Christmas rebellion, slavery was formally abolished. Island on
Fire is a dramatic day-by-day account of this transformative
uprising. A skillful storyteller, Tom Zoellner goes back to the
primary sources to tell the intimate story of the men and women who
rose up and tasted liberty for a few brief weeks. He provides the
first full portrait of the rebellion's enigmatic leader, Samuel
Sharpe, and gives us a poignant glimpse of the struggles and dreams
of the many Jamaicans who died for liberty.
An epic and revelatory narrative of the most important
transportation technology of the modern world
In his wide-ranging and entertaining new book, Tom
Zoellner--coauthor of the "New York Times"-bestselling "An Ordinary
Man"--travels the globe to tell the story of the sociological and
economic impact of the railway technology that transformed the
world--and could very well change it again. From the frigid
trans-Siberian railroad to the antiquated Indian Railways to the
Japanese-style bullet trains, Zoellner offers a stirring story of
this most indispensable form of travel. A masterful narrative
history, "Train" also explores the sleek elegance of railroads and
their hypnotizing rhythms, and explains how locomotives became
living symbols of sex, death, power, and romance.
How well do you really know the older people in your family? And
how will you make sure their stories will be preserved for
generations to come? Homemade Biography is a fun and practical
guide to recording a relative's story so it will never be
forgotten. New York Times bestselling author Tom Zoellner, who
wrote his own grandmother's biography, draws on years of
interviewing and writing experience to provide:
- More than 300 questions designed to provke vivid responses
- Case studies of successful family biographies
- A revolutionary technique for writing with grace and
energy
- Ways of finding a connective theme buried in a jumble of
facts
- Strategies for dealing with sensitive topics
- Professional methods of editing for quality and accuracy
- Tips for making your relative's story a part of the permanent
historical record
Most of us think about bringing a tape recorder or a notebook to
a visit with an older relative, but few actually do it. This
clear-eyed manual gives you all the expertise you'll need to finish
what could be one of the most fulfilling conversations you'll ever
have.
The astonishing biography of a mineral that can sustain our world-
or destroy it
Uranium occurs naturally in the earth's crust-yet holds the power
to end all life on the planet. This is its fundamental paradox, and
its story is a fascinating window into the valor, greed, genius,
and folly of humanity. A problem for miners in the Middle Ages, an
inspiration to novelists and a boon to medicine, a devastat-ing
weapon at the end of World War II, and eventually a polluter,
killer, excuse for war with Iraq, potential deliverer of Armageddon
and a possible last defense against global warming-"Uranium" is the
riveting story of the most powerful element on earth, and one which
will shape our future, for better or worse.
An American Library Association Notable Book
When he proposed to his girlfriend, Tom Zoellner gave what is
expected of every American man--a diamond engagement ring. But when
the relationship broke apart, he was left with a used diamond that
began to haunt him. His obsession carried him around the globe;
from the "blood diamond" rings of Africa; to the sweltering
polishing factories of India; to mines above the Arctic Circle; to
illegal diggings in Brazil; to the London headquarters of De Beers,
the secretive global colossus that has dominated the industry for
more than a century and permanently carved the phrase "A diamond is
forever" on the psyche. An adventure story in the tradition of
Susan Orlean's "The Orchid Thief, ""The Heartless Stone" is a
voyage into the cold heart of the world's most unyielding gem.
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