Ellen Craft Books

The book presents three compelling narratives that delve into the lives of renowned enslaved individuals, highlighting their struggles, resilience, and contributions to history. Each account provides a unique perspective on the harsh realities of slavery while showcasing the strength of the human spirit. Through these stories, readers gain insight into the personal experiences and enduring legacies of those who fought against oppression, making it a poignant exploration of history and humanity.

The book presents three compelling narratives that delve into the lives of notable enslaved individuals, exploring their struggles, resilience, and contributions to history. Each account highlights the personal experiences and challenges faced by these individuals, shedding light on their fight for freedom and the impact of slavery on their lives and society. Through rich storytelling, the book aims to educate readers about the complexities of slavery and honor the legacies of those who endured it.

"Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom" chronicles the daring escape of William and Ellen Craft which is often known as the most ingenious plot in fugitive slave history. While Ellen posed as a white male planter William, her husband, posed as her personal servant. The couple cleverly travelled by train and steamboat, escaped nail-biting detection and arrived in Philadelphia on Christmas Day. Excerpt: "It is a common practice in the slave States for ladies, when angry with their maids, to send them to the calybuce sugar-house, or to some other place established for the purpose of punishing slaves, and have them severely flogged; and I am sorry it is a fact, that the villains to whom those defenceless creatures are sent, not only flog them as they are ordered, but frequently compel them to submit to the greatest indignity." William Craft (1824-1900) and Ellen Craft (1826-1891) were slaves from Macon, Georgia in the United States who escaped to the North in December 1848. Their daring escape was widely publicized, making them among the most famous of fugitive slaves in America. But due to the controversial Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 they had to immigrate to Britain for safety where they continued to garner support for the abolishment of slavery.

Compelling 1860 narrative of escape from slavery in which the wife disguised herself as a man and the husband posed as her servant. Fascinating insights into19th-century issues of race, gender, and class.