In Defiance

By Susan Stessin-Cohn, Ashley Hurlburt-Biagini,

Book cover of In Defiance: Runaways from Slavery in New York's Hudson River Valley, 1735-1831

Book description

In Defiance documents 607 fugitives from slavery in the 18th and 19th-century Hudson River Valley region of New York State through the reproduction and transcription of 512 archival newspaper notices for runaway slaves placed by their enslavers or agents. Also included are notices advertising slaves captured, notices advertising slaves for…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked In Defiance as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Reading just one newspaper advertisement for a runaway slave makes New York slavery real. Reading an entire book filled with more than 750 advertisements haunted me, especially when I found notices written by my own Dutch ancestors, like Coxsackie’s Hendrick Hoeghtelen, who in 1761 advertised for a man named Anthony, who spoke good Spanish, had one eye, and was marked with smallpox. Whatever became of Anthony? I wish I knew.

The combination of actual copies of the ads alongside transcription added to the power of the book. I come back to its pages again and again. 

From Debra's list on slavery that will surprise you.

Want books like In Defiance?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like In Defiance.

Browse books like In Defiance

Book cover of Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory
Book cover of The Known World
Book cover of Complicity: How the North Promoted, Prolonged, and Profited from Slavery

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,459

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Slavery, smallpox, and slavery in the United States?

Slavery 308 books
Smallpox 18 books