Plot Summary

In Search of the Promised Land

John Hope Franklin, Loren Schweninger
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In Search of the Promised Land

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2005

Book Brief

John Hope Franklin, Loren Schweninger

In Search of the Promised Land

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2005
Book Details
Pages

304

Format

Biography • Nonfiction

Setting

United States • 19th century

Publication Year

2005

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In Search of the Promised Land by John Hope Franklin and Loren Schweninger chronicles the lives of several generations of the Thomas-Rapier family, highlighting the challenges faced by mixed-race enslaved and ostensibly free Black individuals in America during the era of slavery. The narrative begins with James Thomas obtaining his freedom in Nashville in 1851 and follows his and his family's arduous journey towards liberation, spanning several years and encompassing varied experiences of semi-freedom, the dangers of being a runaway, and the complex social dynamics they navigated.

Informative

Mysterious

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.2

168 ratings

73%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

John Hope Franklin and Loren Schweninger's In Search of the Promised Land is lauded for its meticulous research and vivid storytelling, offering a compelling look into the lives of freed slaves seeking stability in a turbulent era. Some reviews note its dense academic style might deter general readers. Overall, it is highly revered for contributing valuable insights into African American history.

Who should read this

Who Should Read In Search of the Promised Land?

Readers who would enjoy John Hope Franklin and Loren Schweninger's In Search of the Promised Land are typically interested in American history, African American studies, and narratives of resilience during the antebellum South. Fans of The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson or The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James might find this work equally compelling.

4.2

168 ratings

73%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

304

Format

Biography • Nonfiction

Setting

United States • 19th century

Publication Year

2005

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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