From the Bookshelf of NonFiction Pulitzers…

Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom

Ilyon Woo

Start date: September 1, 2024

Finish date: October 31, 2024

Discussion: Biography/Autobiography

Why we're reading this: Group Read September - October 2024

Winner 2024 Biography
[close] Group Read September - October 2024

Winner 2024 Biography

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 29 topics — 1,842 comments total

Biography/Autobiography

* Biography/Autobiography List
By Katy · 13 posts · 129 views

last updated May 05, 2020 09:21AM

King: A Life
By Katy · 26 posts · 35 views

last updated Apr 01, 2025 11:15AM

showing 6 of 6 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Sep 19, 2024 Teri rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: history, non-fiction, read-in-2024, pulitzer-2024

It is Wednesday, December 20, 1848, when a young invalid gentleman and his enslaved man board a train in Macon, Georgia, heading north to visit family in Philadelphia. At least, it appeared to be the case. In actuality, the young man was Ellen Craft, an enslaved woman whose skin was so light that she could pass as white, and with her was her husband William, who acted as her enslaved man. Ellen and William were charged to different enslavers and Ellen's future in Macon was in doubt. With the exp ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Sep 23, 2024 Debbie rated it really liked it

Shelves: pulitzer-group-read, history, family, women, culture, non-fiction, social-commentary, women-writers, politics, a-pulgrp-nom

Oh my. This book is as compelling as are many works of fiction. The writing is engaging and the story told is incredible. Ellen's and William's creativity and ingenuity in escaping slavery are as incredible as that of Henry "Box" Brown. Does this book deserve the Pulitzer Prize? Absolutely. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 19, 2024 Alisa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: pulitzer, the-south, history

Remarkable story of Ellen and William Craft, two enslaved people in Georgia who plotted an ingenious and daring escape to freedom in the Northeast. Their harrowing journey was the beginning of their lifelong quest for freedom not only for themselves but for all enslaved people. The telling of their story became a centerpiece of the abolitionist movement in the US and Europe. Their dream of having freeborn children and being recognized as husband and wife would come to fruition though that goal w Remarkable story of Ellen and William Craft, two enslaved people in Georgia who plotted an ingenious and daring escape to freedom in the Northeast. Their harrowing journey was the beginning of their lifelong quest for freedom not only for themselves but for all enslaved people. The telling of their story became a centerpiece of the abolitionist movement in the US and Europe. Their dream of having freeborn children and being recognized as husband and wife would come to fruition though that goal would be tested many times. Their resiliency and sense of purpose was unwavering.

The story is well told by the author who uncovered a lot of source material and followed the trail of as many details as she could find to build this epic story from the lineage of Ellen and William through the end of their lives. Sometimes in a story like this there can be gaps in source material, and the author was careful to highlight if something was missing yet she still managed to connect the dots in a way that stayed authentic to the story. This is not historical fiction. It's the real deal. Which makes it all the more remarkable.

While reading the book I was very much focused on the journey, the times, the social and political climate of the country, and those who bravely supported and helped the Crafts along the way. What really sunk in for me after finishing the book was the relationship of Ellen and William. So many times they were forced apart or into situations that could easily have splintered their bond and thwarted their journey. During their trek out of Georgia they traveled as master and slave, white (passing) and black, in vastly separate quarters, with little opportunity to speak to each other and even then under tightly controlled circumstances. Throughout their lives, there were times when they acted independently of each other but in actuality they were consistently on the same wavelength. That they had such a durable bond is another testament to the power of their story. This book will stick with me for a long time. Highly recommend. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 05, 2024 Helga Cohen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: biographies-and-memoirs, race, american-history, pulitzers-2024

In this interesting story about the Crafts, we follow Ellen and William in their daring escape from slavery, their risk of getting to freedom and their flight from the US to escape capture and being sent back to the South. The author reveals much about the evil practices of slavery and the rules that were established. The Crafts story outlines the struggle of their escape and of depraved slaves to the excitement of the abolitionists who help rescue them. Freed slaves joined the cause and return ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 02, 2024 Katy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2024-pulitzer

An important piece of history

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 23, 2025 Kathleen (itpdx) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: lwv-book-group, non-fiction, rws-2024-5-winter

Woo gave me a fuller picture of the abolition movement in the U.S. and Britain.
My quibble with the book is Woo’s assessment that Ellen and William didn’t accomplish everything they tried. The book is full of amazing accomplishments of them both individually and as couple.

Like · see review