Reviews
"Offers trenchant insights into the stark conditions of everyday life along the Mississippi." -- Louisiana History, This is a great read for steamboat buffs no less than students of African American history. (Joseph P. Reidy, Howard University), "A terrific read. . . . This is social and economic history at its best." -- Journal of American History, "Buchanan's research is impeccable. . . . Unreservedly an important book--vital for students of the Mississippi and relevant far more widely." -- Journal of American Studies, "A long, sharply focused look at the life of African American river workers both during and after slavery." --Missouri Historical Review, "[Buchanan] highlights the paradoxical nature of the Mississippi and the mobility afforded river workers. . . . An important addition the literature on U.S. slavery." --Journal of African American Studies, "A valuable contribution to the ever-expanding literature on American slavery and freedom. . . . The book deserves a wide readership." -- Civil War History, "A solid work of scholarship. . . . A well-illustrated and attractively produced volume." -- Western Historical Quarterly, "A valuable contribution to the ever-expanding literature on American slavery and freedom. . . . The book deserves a wide readership." --Civil War History, "In this thoroughly researched and elegantly written book, Buchanan recreates the lives of the tens of thousands of African-Americans who labored on the Mississippi and its tributaries. . . . Thanks to [his] prodigious investigation and eloquent prose, the real-life Jims who peopled the river banks and towns have at long last had their stories told." --American Historical Review, "[Buchanan] highlights the paradoxical nature of the Mississippi and the mobility afforded river workers. . . . An important addition the literature on U.S. slavery." -Journal of African American Studies, "Offers trenchant insights into the stark conditions of everyday life along the Mississippi." -Louisiana History, "Buchanan's research is impeccable. . . . Unreservedly an important book--vital for students of the Mississippi and relevant far more widely." - Journal of American Studies, "In this thoroughly researched and elegantly written book, Buchanan recreates the lives of the tens of thousands of African-Americans who labored on the Mississippi and its tributaries. . . . Thanks to [his] prodigious investigation and eloquent prose, the real-life Jims who peopled the river banks and towns have at long last had their stories told." -American Historical Review, "A solid work of scholarship. . . . A well-illustrated and attractively produced volume." -Western Historical Quarterly, "A terrific read. . . . This is social and economic history at its best." -Journal of American History, "A valuable contribution to the ever-expanding literature on American slavery and freedom. . . . The book deserves a wide readership." -Civil War History, "A terrific read. . . . This is social and economic history at its best." --Journal of American History, "A long, sharply focused look at the life of African American river workers both during and after slavery." -- Missouri Historical Review, "Offers trenchant insights into the stark conditions of everyday life along the Mississippi." --Louisiana History, "Makes a welcome and significant contribution to the history of slavery and African Americans with this interesting and well-researched work." --Journal of the Early Republic, "Makes a welcome and significant contribution to the history of slavery and African Americans with this interesting and well-researched work." -- Journal of the Early Republic, "[Buchanan] highlights the paradoxical nature of the Mississippi and the mobility afforded river workers. . . . An important addition the literature on U.S. slavery." -- Journal of African American Studies, "Makes a welcome and significant contribution to the history of slavery and African Americans with this interesting and well-researched work." -Journal of the Early Republic, "A long, sharply focused look at the life of African American river workers both during and after slavery." -Missouri Historical Review, "In this thoroughly researched and elegantly written book, Buchanan recreates the lives of the tens of thousands of African-Americans who labored on the Mississippi and its tributaries. . . . Thanks to [his] prodigious investigation and eloquent prose, the real-life Jims who peopled the river banks and towns have at long last had their stories told." -- American Historical Review