James DeWolf and the Rhode Island Slave Trade (American Heritage)

James DeWolfe was so much more active in the slave trade than I formerly realized. Two of his relations in Lyme CT were also active as privateers and slave traders. It is very interesting to know about the actual function of the business. I feel for all the Africans who suffered for the sake of his personal wealth.

In an excellently-researched book amplified by maps and pictures, this book is well worth reading. It's easy to read and the author moves the story along at a comfortable pace. The book shines a light on the economics of slavery and the drive for money and power that perpetuated that horrible dehumanizing practice, where people were just "cargo", through the life of James DeWolf and those who intersected with his life. While it serves to debunk some of the local lore about DeWolf and local slaving practices, the book would be compelling reading to anyone (like me) wanting a better understanding of the historical dynamics of that time period. I highly recommend reading the book.

Clear eyed, thorough and succinct. This book is a "must read" for anyone seeking to understand the history of the "Deep North" and its role in the slave trade. Ms Mestad Johnson eloquently and humanely limns the economy of Rhode Island in the 18th and 19th Century and her revelations are nothing short of jaw dropping. Thank you, Ms. Mestad Johnson for shedding light on the truth.

A well-researched and written--and long overdue--exposé of the worst family in the history of the United States. This is not an exaggeration. The slave-trading DeWolfs make the fictional Corleone family seem like boy scouts. Johnson's book is a welcome addition to the necessary accounting of America's often sordid past--an accounting that must take place if our country is ever to move forward.

The slave trade in Rhode Island was not covered previously in such detail and such historical accuracy, as Cynthia Mestad Johnson's work. I read much in this accurate historical work that I had never before known. For every Rhode Islander and historian, this is a 'must have' and 'read' for all of us.

Cynthia Mestad Johnson has done a thorough and exhaustive job researching the subject of this delightfulBook. I say delightful because she presents her subject in a very readable way, propelling the reader forward throughout the book. This long forgotten chapter in American history has been brought to light by very capable hands. a joy to read!

An interesting under told story. The time has come for more Americans to understand the complexity of the slave trade and its history in New England.

A little known piece of Rhode Island, and American history told in an intelligent and concise way. I believe this is the first authoritative telling of the DeWolf's slave trade legacy in New England, and Ms Johnson has done a great job.I can not recommend this book highly enough.