by Dwight Jon Zimmerman
ISBN: 978-0-8090-5358-2
First published 2012
148 pages
Illustrated by Wayne Vansant
Publisher: Hill and Wang (Farrar, Starus and Giroux)
3/5 Stars
A great introduction to the lead up to the American civil war. Abraham Lincoln is well known, but not so much Frederick Douglass. This is an illustrated parallel biography of both lives.
Both men taught themselves to read, both had loving mothers, and both hated slavery with a passion. One was black, one was white. Both men fought as they could, using eloquence, the writing and editing of articles or speeches, and the charismatic energy of their personas to convince their fellow citizens of the evils of slavery, and the actions that the nation had to take.
Towards the end of the civil war they did indeed actually meet, and both were impressed with the other, and counted themselves fortunate to have met.
Less of a graphic novel then an illustrated story, it is nevertheless a great introduction into American history and how individuals can make a difference.
The Eclectic Book Review 