When People Were Things: Harriet Beecher Stowe, Abraham Lincoln, and the Emancipation Proclamation by Lisa Waller Rogers ...

from the blurb "During the three decades before the American Civil War, Southern slaveholders tried to end the anti-slavery movement. They exerted their influence by censoring the press and the mail, attacking and killing abolitionists, burning buildings, drafting frightening new laws and repealing others, and terrorizing and abducting Northern free Blacks. Northerners began to realize that the Slave Power would not rest until slavery was allowed to plant itself all over the nation; many stopped compromising and pushed back. This awakening was due to the efforts of visionaries who used the power of the pen, purse, pulpit, and press to expose the brutal injustices of slavery in an attempt to bring about the liberation of an enslaved people and restore the country to its original commitment of equality for all."

This was a well-written dive into not only the primary, but secondary, and tertiary players that drove the change(s) that resulted in the Emancipation Proclamation. Along the way I learned quite a few things that I had never known and enjoyed the way that these more unknown narratives helped drive the pace. "When People..." features short chapters that make it an easy read and keep you engaged in the evolving story, even if you know where it's going. The disparate stories helped set the stage for the Civil War so well - placing you into the local mindsets and against the various forces on all sides, with particular attention paid to the female voices and their place. This attention to the female voice and their requisite struggle is at the heart of this book, imo. Highly recommended.

A well researched, well written, engaging and informative account of the abolitionist movement in the United States leading up to the Emancipation Proclamation. I was enraptured from the first chapter and could barely put it down. I learned so much that I didn't know, especially about Harriet Beecher Stowe, Harriet Tubman, John Brown, and the initial challenges of the Civil War. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Barrel Cactus Press, Inc. for an advanced reader copy.

When People Were Things is a compelling, in-depth look at the anti-slavery movement in the three decades leading up to the Emancipation Proclamation, shedding light on the activists who fought to end one of the darkest chapters in American history. Author Lisa Waller Rogers is a masterful storyteller, bringing these courageous activists to life with nuance and humanity.

Rogers not only explores prominent figures in the abolitionist movement but also highlights lesser-known enslaved people and women whose contributions were vital to the cause. I especially appreciated the inclusion of so many women’s voices, which added depth and breadth to the narrative.

Told in short, highly readable chapters, this meticulously researched book doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities of slavery. Yet, amid the horrors, Rogers emphasizes the resilience, love, and dignity of real people who endured and resisted unimaginable circumstances. Her attention to detail makes these historical figures feel fully dimensional and deeply human.

When People Were Things helped me connect the dots between key historical moments and figures, deepening my understanding of this era of history. I highly recommend this powerful read.

3.5 stars

This was a very hard read in a lot of different levels. When I saw this book in netgalley I thought that it was a very interesting book on a topic that I don't know much about. Since I wanted to educate myself on this topic I decided to pick it.

First of all, I must say that it is a rather slow read, obviously, and sometimes a little confusing due to the great amount of names. Sometimes I felt a little lost because I'm not very good with names so I kept forgeting who was realeted to who in which way. On the other hand, I am not a U.S. citizen so I feel that it also made it more difficult, because some characters weren't introduced as thoroughly as others.
It was also a very difficult read on an emotional level. What Black people had to go through was really hard to read about, and seeing that even though some people were in favor of freeing them, they still had limitations in other aspects — it’s heartbreaking. On the other hand, realasing that we do not learn from past mistakes was another very sad aspect of this book.
I really encorage you to read this book if you're intereseted in learning more about history and other perspectives that have been silenced or not so talked about.