Harriet Tubman was an escaped slave who went on to become a saviour to many, an abolitionist and anti-slavery activist. Born into slavery in around 1822, Tubman escaped to freedom, and subsequently made some thirteen missions back to the south, helping to rescue around 70 families using a network of safe houses known as the underground railroad.
When the Civil War began, Tubman worked for the Union Army and was the first woman to lead an armed expedition when she led the raid at Combahee Ferry, which liberated more then 700 slaves.
Tubman died on 10th March 1913 and became an icon of American courage and freedom. The date is marked as Harriet Tubman Day and today we’re recommending five books that we think capture her spirit.
The Underground Railroad – Colson Whitehead
No list of books from this period would be complete without The Underground Railroad, the award winning and groundbreaking bestseller of last year. While a novel, the book tells the story of escaped slaves well and is an important read for those wanting to find out more about this period of American history.
Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom – Catherine Clinton
If it’s Tubman you want to learn more about then this biography is a great place to start. A complete story of Tubman’s life, from slave to abolitionist, it makes for riveting reading.
Each list will be ten books, the ten bestselling books of the last one hundred years and as we’re still in 2018 (just) we’re starting with 1918.
As the lists continue you’ll see trends through the years as popular authors shine through, but for today it’s the ten bestselling books of 1918.
To mark the date, we’re making some recommendations today, if you’d like to know more about this event with books that offer an in-depth look into the day, its personal impact and its place in history.
We’ve seen many of these books recommended across a variety of sources this year, including recommendations from you, so without further ado here are the top ten books of 2018, according to the New York Times.
This month is a mix-up of classic books, new releases and recommendations from the Cwts, including some books that have featured heavily in the Top 20 every month. We hope you find something that interests you. Here are the top 20 books for December, chosen by you! Read More
This weekend we’re going to feature all three lists to give you some recommendations. Today we have the kids list ranging from picture books to middle-grade fiction, graphic novels, folklore & fairy tales, poetry, and nonfiction.