Reviews for Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former...

The average rating for Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former... based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2011-01-28 00:00:00 James Cochran If there is one problem with J.H. Merle D'Aubigne's histories of the Reformation, it is the scope of the work and the sheer size of it, and the number of names which make an appearance. I had never read much about the Reformation before I started reading Merle D'Aubigne's books and they are a bit overwhelming. They are fascinating and fantastic to read. Merle D'Aubigne writes with such vigour. It reads more like a novel, or a serial, than a history book. It is full of life and pace. But it is confusing. You forget who all the different figures are who keep making their appearance, and forget what their concern is in the events going on and how they are all connected or related to one another. So in many respects it would probably be advisable to read a much shorter account of the Reformation first to get a general grasp of the overall picture, before immersing yourselves in the finer details. But I have never done that and I am ploughing on with Merle D'Aubigne and thoroughly enjoying it. Towards the end of this volume, chronicling events in Geneva as the city sought to free itself from political powers and Rome, it does feel a bit long-winded or repetitive, but it is perhaps necessary in setting the scene for what is going to be coming in the following volumes. So in itself this volume might lose half a star, but I will round it up because of how much I recommend Merle D'Aubigne. He breathes life into history, and traces the hand of God at work, as he seeks to stir up wonder at the change that God has wrought in people's lives, and make us treasure the religious liberties and doctrine that have been passed down to us through the sacrifices and labours of these men (and women) of five hundred years ago. He provides us with much to praise God for, and much cause for penitence at the way we take our many blessings, and the glorious doctrines of the Reformation, for granted.

Review # 2 was written on 2011-05-05 00:00:00 J Helmut "In all ages it has been seen how great is the power of any predominant idea to work upon the inert mass of mankind, to rouse the spirit of a nation, and to urge its votaries by thousands, if need be, into the field of battle and the very jaws of death. But if an idea whose origin is earthly has a potency so great,--what limit shall we set to the power of one communicated from above, when God himself has opened men's hearts to receive it?" Good stuff...