“A beautifully crafted and innovative look at the writings of southern African Americans facing the oppressions of slavery and the possibilities of freedom.” —Journal of Southern History
“A groundbreaking and beautifully written study of the manuscript cultures of enslaved and recently freed people.” —American Quarterly
Read an author interview or newspaper feature.
“An interlinked mosaic of remarkable letters by ordinary individuals during an unprecedented conflict.” —Journal of American History
“Brilliant, often lyrical close readings. . . . a form of scholarship as generous as it is bold.” —American Literary History Online Review
An “extraordinary book.” —Journal of Southern History
“Lively, polemic, sharply written, and ingeniously researched.” —Early American Literature
“This is the volume of literary criticism we deserve.” —Studies in the Novel
Read a blog post on “When the 21st Century Began”
co-edited with Hilary E. Wyss, with project direction by Mary Mahoney
Read online at hiddenliteracies.org.