Review by Choice Review
John Gregg Fee (1816-1901) is the central figure in this account of antislavery activity in Kentucky in the late 1850s. An abolitionist preacher who had attended Lane Seminary, Fee returned to his native state in 1854. He served as leader of an antislavery colony at Berea founded with the encouragement of Cassius M. Clay, the leading abolitionist in the upper South. Sears explores the missionary and teaching activities of Fee and his followers, sheds light on the short-lived school at Berea, and offers much detail on the forced expulsion of the abolitionists in 1858 and 1859, an indication of the deepening sectional crisis. Sears is more sympathetic to Fee than to the better-known Clay, whose moderation is contrasted with Fee's radicalism. This well-written account relies heavily on biography (Sears is an English professor, not a professional historian). As the author indicates in his introduction, however, there is little analysis or generalization and virtually no attempt to assess the significance of Fee's work. This lack of interpretation is partly offset by extensive research; Sears exploits an extraordinarily rich collection of sources. His story, which is full of personalities, incidents, details, and quotations, springs to life. The book is printed from camera-ready typed copy. No illustrations or maps, but an index and bibliography. Upper-division undergraduates and above.-J.M. Matthews, Georgia State University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
