Book Reviewed: John Brown's Raid: Harpers Ferry and the Coming of the Civil War by Jon-Erik M. Gilot and Kevin R. Pawlak

Prelude to the American civil war: The making of a martyr There are several books about the life and work of abolitionist John Bown, especially his motivation for the insurrection at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia (now in West Virginia). Four of seven chapters are devoted to this rebellion. This book is inspiring because it is a story that provides a look at the human side of a challenging mission. His efforts are acknowledged as a cataclysmic event that catapulted the United States towards civil war and even influenced the political career of Abraham Lincoln. John Brown began his movement for the abolition of slavery by attempting to free slaves. When he realized that the time for easy solutions was gone, he perceived that the armed rebellion was the only alternative. The book gives some accounts of his migration from New York to Pennsylvania to Ohio and eventually to the Western territories of Kansas that was drawing southern population to keep Kansas as a pro-slavery state. John Brown fought in Kansas, and then moved his band of rebels to Harper’s Ferry, Virginia for an armed struggle. The book details of the uprising from the beginning to end of the raid on the United States arsenal at Harper’s Ferry. On the last day of his life, John Brown shook hands with those near him on the scaffold and assumed his position. He did not exhibit fear; not a muscle moved, he stood erect and calm during the last few minutes of his life. Reports of Brown's stoicism on the day of his death enhanced his legacy for northern abolitionists. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau compared Brown's death on the gallows to Christ's sacrifice on the Cross. Scores of northerners marked the hour of Brown's execution in solemn tribute and remembrance. Orators spoke of Brown and his purpose. Across the South, bands of men joined military companies. Some of these companies had fallen dormant over the years but became alive again with renewed vigor to protect Southern institutions. Although there are numerous books about John Brown, I found this book reader friendly. It reads flawlessly, and in the appendix section, the author provides references to other books closely related to this work. The walking and driving tours of Harper’s Ferry raid sites are quite helpful.