Cloudsplitter

Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks - A historical fiction tale of abolitionist John Brown told through the eyes of his son as he returns to his father's burial ground in his old age and looks back on his life. The story focuses on John Brown's years in Springfield, Massachusetts as a preacher and a leader in the abolitionist movement, the farm he established in the Adirondacks, his work on the underground railroad, his meetings with Frederick Douglas, battles fought in Kansas and the famous raid at Harper's Ferry.

Our Assessment: A-