Harriet Tubman: A Reference Guide to Her Life and Works

Tubman scholar Larson’s (Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman) latest is a compendium of the most important people, places, and events associated with Tubman as well as an insightful depiction of slavery and its tragic consequences. The book begins with two maps of Tubman’s Underground Railroad routes, a short family genealogy, and a chronology of her life. Next, a brief but affecting introduction sets the tone for what follows—hundreds of descriptive entries on Tubman’s life with extensive details about friends and associates, actions she took to help others escape bondage, and her enduring legacy. Entries are supplemented by pictures and assorted compelling visuals, such as a reward poster for the return of runaways. Four of the six appendices are essential primary documents, including a register of Tubman’s Underground Railroad rescue missions, an 1839 inventory of enslaved people of a prominent enslaver, famous Tubman quotes and speech fragments, and the earliest published interviews and biographical essays on Tubman. The remaining appendices cover myths about the Underground Railroad and Tubman. The writing is judicious but informative, accurately depicting the remarkable achievements of this true hero.