Retrato do autor

Truman Nelson (1911–1987)

Autor(a) de The Old Man: John Brown at Harper's Ferry

10+ Works 115 Membros 3 Críticas

About the Author

Obras por Truman Nelson

Associated Works

Etiquetado

Conhecimento Comum

Nome canónico
Nelson, Truman
Nome legal
Nelson, Truman John
Data de nascimento
1911
Data de falecimento
1987-07-11
Sexo
male
Local de falecimento
Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA
Ocupações
novelist
civil libertarian
conservationist

Membros

Críticas

Using almost exclusively primary sources, Nelson offers a far different portrait of Brown than even the more sympathetic ones of recent years. Commonly portrayed as a fanatic, a madman, or a deluded prophet on a quixotic crusade Nelson offers an individual commanding respect from even those most fervently opposed to him and his ideas. His plan was a revolutionary one, but one of modest scale that was ultimately undone by Brown's compassion and desire to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. Not what - or who - I was expecting.… (mais)
 
Assinalado
pitjrw | 1 outra crítica | Jun 1, 2022 |
Despite being a Kansan and very familiar with his role in 'Bleeding Kansas', I had never really read up on the Harper's Ferry raid or Brown's end. This is a magnificent testament to an American hero's life. I especially appreciated the final pages of Senate debate following the raid, highlighting how Brown's raid made the Civil War inevitable.
 
Assinalado
kcshankd | 1 outra crítica | Dec 14, 2017 |
Truman Nelson's work is relatively obscure today, but his belief in the right of revolution burns in the pages of this book. Written following the Newark riots, Nelson challenges the status quo by drawing on the Constitution's 'Right of Revolution' and the Fourteenth Amendment to justify armed action in response to inequality based on race. Reading this was timely, as I will soon read John Locke's Second Treatise on Government which was drawn upon in the framing of the Constitution. Nelson refers back to the American Revolution and the Civil War, arguing that civil rights for African Americans were paid little more than lip-service. The glacial pace of actualised civil rights meant that revolution was the only way to make these rights real. What is interesting is the historical 'process' of civil rights, with one step forward, two steps backward appearing again and again throughout history. When applied to the problems of today, it is clear that we are currently in the 'two steps backwards' phase. Nelson makes the story of republican liberal democracy come to life, and challenges the conservative republicanism that is all-pervasive in present times. That Nelson considered revolution to be the stuff of republican liberal democracy is obvious, but it is now a myth of antiquity, long lost in the fifty-odd years since his writing. This work makes me think that we are entering the final phase of the end of empire.… (mais)
 
Assinalado
madepercy | Nov 7, 2017 |

Prémios

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Estatísticas

Obras
10
Also by
1
Membros
115
Popularidade
#170,830
Avaliação
4.1
Críticas
3
ISBN
8

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