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Walter Johnson

Soul by Soul: Life Inside the Antebellum Slave Market

Walter JohnsonNonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1999

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Book Brief

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Walter Johnson

Soul by Soul

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1999
Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Louisiana • 19th century

Publication Year

1999

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Soul by Soul by Walter Johnson examines the inner workings of the New Orleans slave market, revealing how the 19th-century Southern economy relied on the commodification of enslaved individuals to support the sugar, tobacco, and cotton industries. Using primary sources like slave narratives, bills of sale, and slaveholder correspondence, Johnson discusses the "chattel principle" that stripped identity from individuals, how slaveholders justified dehumanization, and the pervasive culture and rhetoric that sustained the slave market. The book also explores rituals of sale, the development of racial categories, and the struggles between slaveholders and enslaved people, culminating in the harsh realities of plantation life post-sale. The book covers topics of human commodification, violence, and the dehumanizing impact of racism.

Informative

Mysterious

Dark

Unnerving

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

4.3

2,189 ratings

77%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Walter Johnson's Soul by Soul has garnered praise for its meticulous research and compelling narrative, offering profound insights into the antebellum slave market. Critics laud its vivid portrayal of enslaved individuals' agency and the moral complexities faced by all parties. However, some find its academic tone dense. Overall, it's a pivotal work in understanding American slavery.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Soul by Soul?

A reader fascinated by antebellum Southern history, the economics of slavery, and its human impact will find Soul by Soul compelling. Similar to Edward Baptist’s The Half Has Never Been Told and Ira Berlin’s Slaves Without Masters, Johnson's work appeals to those seeking in-depth analysis of slavery's interpersonal dynamics.

4.3

2,189 ratings

77%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Louisiana • 19th century

Publication Year

1999

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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