160 Book Reviews

SLAVERI A\D THE FREKH RE\OLKTIO\ISTS (1788-1805). by Anna Julia Cooper. 228 pages. The Edwin Mellen Press. New York, 1988. USS49.95 cloth.

11 is fortunate for general readers as Hell as for histori- ans that Frances Richardson Keller found a copy of L’Al!ilude de la France a Lygard de t’rsclavage pendant /a rCvolurmn quite by chance in the stacks of the Regen- stein Library at the Unibersity of Chicago and that she decided (0 share this rare find generously through a translation. The work is valuable, not only to those who share her historical interest in the subjects of slavery and the French Revolution. but. more broadly, 10 those who share her perception of a current relevance in its treat- ment of the problems of international race relations.

Slavery and (he French RevolutionisIs stands as a testimonial to one woman’s intelligence, courage, and strength of character. The author. Anna Julia Cooper, had a most remarkable life. Born in North Carolina, c.1858. the daughter of a slave and, most likely, her mother’s owner, she grew up during the Reconstruction period. Struggling against poverty, sexism, and racism, she earned both the Bachelor and blaster of Arts de- grees from Oberlin College. Cooper defended her doc- toral di>\ertation, of \rhich this volume is a translarion, at the Unihcrsity of Paris in 1924 when she was in her mid-60s. She died in I964 at the age of 105.

III her introductory essay. t;muces Keller quite cor- rectly vicwr Cooper’\ text as one which embodies and rcllccrs a ~oman’s interpretation of general history and slavery. borh of which are crucial (0 the understanding of hirloricnl cvcn(Li and. rpccifically, rhote of the French Revolution. For Kicllcr rhcrc arc 1wo esscurial points to cmphaG in [he work she has trarlstafcd: (a) Ihe ccnlral importance of rhc is\ucs of the slave lradc and of slavery ir\clf in Ihe \lrupylc arising from Ihc L)ec/aruliorr oj‘ltw Rixtrrs o/ ,i/on; and (h) the loss. through failure of the French to face thcx is\uc\ honcs[ly, of the idcal oppor- [unity 10 allain real advances in liberty and cqualily.

This failure. which SWIIN inexplicable in view of [he egalirxian tcmpcr of rhe times. is most credibly ex- plu~ncd by Cooper’s a~~cssmcn~ in rhs obstacles which

[he abolitionisls encounlcrcd. In Iarc 18th~century France. racial tolerance was generally unknown. Al- though rhe country benefited from the wealth of its co- lonial possession\. and particularly from that of Sainl Domingue. mo\t contincnlal French knew and cared lit- tle about issues relating to [he colonies. On the other hand. plantarion owners. merchants living in French port cities engaged in [rade wirh lhc colonies, and ship- pars all struggled energetically 10 opppose abolitionist efforts. Cooper discusses Ihe economic threat felt by ItIce groups, but she also indiculss that concepts of cake, racial prejudice, and politics were major dclcr- rent.\ IO emancipation.

The aulhor’s review of events is rhorough. She ex- plains ihe positions of Ihe Friends of rhe Blacks and Ihe blassiac Club with a balance not oflen exhibited in dis- cus\ions of this difficull aspect of French colonial histo- ry. In addi[ion. her careful derailing of &bares regarding Sainl Dominguc rcpre\cnralion to lhe &ales General provides a basis for grcarer understanding of the repcr- cussions rhal occurred on the i4and as demands for aulonomour rule were followed by demands for mulatto right5 and black emancipa[ion. She concludes with a rcvicw of Toussainr Louberturc’s efforls and triumphs

and Napolean’s violation of Revolurionary precepts, which delayed emancipation fo ralmost half a century.

Cooper’s judicious tone may surprise today’s read- ers. Disappointment rather than anger characterizes her discussions of the deeply engrained and tortured nature of racial prejudices among white, black. and mularto. But allowances for her mildness should be made in view

of the temper of these pre-militant times. This book is so important a contribution 10 the history of abolition that it deserves the wider readership that a translarion pro- vides. Regrettably it also deserves a more meticulous printing. It contains an unusual number of typographi- cal errors, many of which are distracting. I recommend the book for all interested in French colonial history, the history of black emancipation, and momen’s history. More. I recommend it to those who are not initially interested. They will be before they are \ery far into it.

LEONORE LOFT STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YOKK. FREDONIA. U.S.A.

“1 H\vt: DO% MY ~)llTl” FIIWEICE S1GttTtSGAI.E I>

.rttE <.‘twtm% WIH 1854-26. edited by Sue M. Goldie. 326 papcs. Manchester University Press. blanchester.

PAKIYEW A%t) I: MOI.I.Y DEHSON. t‘e,~~\~>rc. A’II, Ivt.\r

I)&.AI. Po1.tlt(.s. by Susan Ware, 327 pages. Yale Univer- siry Press, New Haven. Price UKf22.50.

I.AKIWA Rt:~wt.tt. by Calhy Porler. 192 pages. Virago Piouccrs. I.ondon. Price UKf5.50.

In Itic early 1970s. a numhcr of femini\rs highlighted the fact Ihat women were hidden from hi\lory. obscured from view by a male-oriculcd scholarship that defined hi\lory as Ihe activities of mtn. Since that time. many fcmalc scholars have been benvcring away. discovering the past of our foremothers in a wide range of activiries. Indcctl, women’s hislory is now a booming publication indub[ry. New books appear each week, delailing the lives of rich and poor, famous and unknoun. The books reviewed here richly extend our knowledge of women’s biography.

t4orencc Nighringalc is one of the few famous wom- en u\uully mcnlioned in mosl malcsrream history. Born in 1820 10 a wealthy landowner and his wife, she is popularly remembered as “The Lady wilh the Lamp” who nursed sick and wounded soldier5 during the Cri- mean Uir. This edited book of her Ictrrrs to official\. lamiiy. and friends relates to this time in her life and offers many fascinating insights into Ihe personality of this intrepid woman. She bartlcs aith Sidney Herberr. a War Office official, demanding, among\t other things. 1000 knives, forks, and spoons for the wounded soldiers who “tear their food like animals.” She complains 10 her Aunt hlai that she has been accused “of lobe of power, of a tendency 10 R. Calholicism!!!! . of wan1 of reli- gious principle.”

What emerges from [his intriguing store of letters is the complcxiry of the wrilcr. That she has been misrepre- sented in history. as the pious, gentle. tender-hearled nurse. slooping to cool Ihe brow of a dying soldier. is beyond doubt. Florence Nightingale was a srrong-mind-