Frederick Douglass in Context provides an in-depth introduction to the multifaceted life and times of Frederick Douglass, the nineteenth-century's leading black activist and one of the most celebrated American writers. An international team of scholars sheds new light on the environments and communities that shaped Douglass's career. The book challenges the myth of Douglass as a heroic individualist who towered over family, friends, and colleagues, and reveals instead a man who relied on others and drew strength from a variety of personal and professional relations and networks. This volume offers both a comprehensive representation of Douglass and a series of concentrated studies of specific aspects of his work. It will be a key resource for students, scholars, teachers, and general readers interested in Douglass and his tireless fight for freedom, justice, and equality for all.

Winner, 2022 Choice Outstanding Academic Titles

‘This volume of thirty-two beautifully crafted essays is a most welcome contribution to Douglass studies, one that will prove useful to a wide range of readers, from undergraduates to experts in the field. The essays are of uniformly high quality, more concerned to present facts than arguments, yet they are also rich with fresh insights that open paths to further research on their topics.’

Nick Bromell - Transatlantica

‘This engaging, ambitious, multidisciplinary collection examines the life and career of famous 19th-century American abolitionist and human rights leader Frederick Douglass. … It should be required reading for any scholar of African American history. … Essential.’

P. F. Rubio Source: Choice