Abolitionists often used the stories of runaways to illustrate the horrors of American slavery. One of the most famous of these runaway narratives was that of Henry Brown, a Virginia slave who, in 1849, sealed himself into a box and shipped himself off to Philadelphia and freedom. Henry "Box" Brown's narrative revealed the ugly reality of slavery, including the deep pain of having his wife and child sold away from him. Fearful of being returned to bondage, Brown moved to England and used his compelling story and his natural sense of showmanship to help turn the public conscience toward abolitionism. His narrative was rewritten in 1851, removing much of the rhetoric of Brown's original ghostwriter. The 1851 narrative is reprinted here, superbly edited by John Ernest, a distinguished scholar. Ernest's 38-page introduction places Brown's narrative into historic context, noting the challenges that Brown faced under the conditions of white supremacy in the North after escaping from slavery in the South. Including editorial notes, appendixes, and reproductions of original illustrations, this volume will prove valuable to students and scholars alike. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All university levels/libraries. R. Detweiler California Polytechnic State University--San Luis Obispo

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