Flight to Freedom

By Alvin O. Thompson,

Book cover of Flight to Freedom: African Runaways and Maroons in the Americas

Book description

African slavery in the Americas has left indelible marks on the geographical, political, economic, social and cultural landscapes of the Americas. An important part of that indelibility is marronage that involved both flight from slavery and the establishment of free communities. This book is about the struggles of enslaved Africans…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Flight to Freedom as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This book is predominantly about Caribbean runaways and Maroons, with some brief forays into South America and the United States.

I found Thompson’s approach quite enlightening. Rather than studying marronage by country, as is usually the case, he chose an encompassing thematic approach across territories. He studies the topic in four major parts: the ideological bases of marronage, its origin and development, maroon organization, and the question of accommodation and revolution.

This panoramic view, which also offers a lot of details, helps point out commonalities but also differences between communities. 

From Sylviane's list on runaways and Maroons in the Americas.

Want books like Flight to Freedom?

Our community of 10,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Flight to Freedom.

Browse books like Flight to Freedom

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in slave rebellions, fugitive slaves, and the Caribbean?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about slave rebellions, fugitive slaves, and the Caribbean.

Slave Rebellions Explore 17 books about slave rebellions
Fugitive Slaves Explore 22 books about fugitive slaves
The Caribbean Explore 195 books about the Caribbean