Martin Delany, Frederick Douglass, and the Politics of Representative Identity

This is an inventive take on the ways in which political views are forged and recast in the crucible of political agitation.“Journal of American History” This book must be counted among the most important contributions to Delany scholarship in many years.“American Historical Review” LevineUs book significantly expands our understanding of the interaction between these important black leaders.“Journal of Southern History” “Fascinating… . Through careful research, Levine restores Delany to his hard-won rank as a ‘representative man’ for the African American race.“Choice”” “[A] compelling study… . A rich and important study of the complex cross-fertilizations that occurred in antebellum culture. “Journal of American Studies” RLevineUs analysis … is inventive and at times provocative… . This is an inventive take on the ways in which political views are forged and recast in the crucible of political agitation.S–###Journal of American History# RWith its powerful style and exemplary documentation this book must be counted among the most important contributions to Delany scholarship in many years.S–###American Historical Review# ““Fascinating… . Through careful research, Levine restores Delany to his hard-won rank as a ‘representative man’ for the African American race.”“–###Choice# ““Levine’s ###Martin R. Delany# will stand as the definitive collection for some time to come. It provides a plethora of previously unavailable material about the life of this controversial leader… . Delany, as Levine’s work shows us, was a complex figure whose life embraced the full gamut of nineteenth-century American thought.”“–###Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography# ““This book is the fullest and richest direct comparison to date of the literary careers of Frederick Douglass and Martin Delany, and it lays a new foundation for the comparative study of literary black abolitionism. Levine makes an intriguing case that Delany belongs with Douglass on equal footing within the canon of the American Renaissance. He also demonstrates the mutual influence of Delany, Douglass, and Harriet Beecher Stowe, offering a convincing defense of Stowe as an anti-racist.”“–David W. Blight, Amherst College ““Using a wide array of important documents, RobertLevine’s excellent new book on Douglass and Delany opens to view a revealing relationship in antebellum culture and will be welcomed by literary critics and historians alike.”“–Eric Sundquist, University of California, Los Angeles” Levines book significantly expands our understanding of the interaction between these important black leaders.“Journal of Southern History” YA compelling study… . A rich and important study of the complex cross-fertilizations that occurred in antebellum culture. “Journal of American Studies” Levines analysis … is inventive and at times provocative… . This is an inventive take on the ways in which political views are forged and recast in the crucible of political agitation.–###Journal of American History# With its powerful style and exemplary documentation this book must be counted among the most important contributions to Delany scholarship in many years.–###American Historical Review# “Fascinating… . Through careful research, Levine restores Delany to his hard-won rank as a ‘representative man’ for the African American race.”–###Choice# “Levine’s ###Martin R. Delany# will stand as the definitive collection for some time to come. It provides a plethora of previously unavailable material about the life of this controversial leader… . Delany, as Levine’s work shows us, was a complex figure whose life embraced the full gamut of nineteenth-century American thought.”–###Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography# “This book is the fullest and richest direct comparison to date of the literary careers of Frederick Douglass and Martin Delany, and it lays a new foundation for the comparative study of literary black abolitionism. Levine makes an intriguing case that Delany belongs with Douglass on equal footing within the canon of the American Renaissance. He also demonstrates the mutual influence of Delany, Douglass, and Harriet Beecher Stowe, offering a convincing defense of Stowe as an anti-racist.”–David W. Blight, Amherst College “Using a wide array of important documents, Robert Levine’sexcellent new book on Douglass and Delany opens to view a revealing relationship in antebellum culture and will be welcomed by literary critics and historians alike.”–Eric Sundquist, University of California, Los Angeles Levinea[s book significantly expands our understanding of the interaction between these important black leaders.“Journal of Southern History” Fascinating… . Through careful research, Levine restores Delany to his hard-won rank as a ‘representative man’ for the African American race.“Choice” Levine_s book significantly expands our understanding of the interaction between these important black leaders.“Journal of Southern History” Levine ’s book significantly expands our understanding of the interaction between these important black leaders.“Journal of Southern History” Levine s book significantly expands our understanding of the interaction between these important black leaders.“Journal of Southern History” [A] compelling study… . A rich and important study of the complex cross-fertilizations that occurred in antebellum culture. “Journal of American Studies” ‘Levine s analysis … is inventive and at times provocative… . This is an inventive take on the ways in which political views are forged and recast in the crucible of political agitation.“–###Journal of American History# ‘With its powerful style and exemplary documentation this book must be counted among the most important contributions to Delany scholarship in many years.”–###American Historical Review# “Fascinating… . Through careful research, Levine restores Delany to his hard-won rank as a ‘representative man’ for the African American race.”–###Choice# “Levine’s ###Martin R. Delany# will stand as the definitive collection for some time to come. It provides a plethora of previously unavailable material about the life of this controversial leader… . Delany, as Levine’s work shows us, was a complex figure whose life embraced the full gamut of nineteenth-century American thought.”–###Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography# “This book is the fullest and richest direct comparison to date of the literary careers of Frederick Douglass and Martin Delany, and it lays a new foundation for the comparative study of literary black abolitionism. Levine makes an intriguing case that Delany belongs with Douglass on equal footing within the canon of the American Renaissance. He also demonstrates the mutual influence of Delany, Douglass, and Harriet Beecher Stowe, offering a convincing defense of Stowe as an anti-racist.”–David W. Blight, Amherst College “Using a wide array of important documents, Robert Levine’s excellent new book on Douglass and Delany opens to view a revealing relationship in antebellum culture and will be welcomed by literary critics and historians alike.”–Eric Sundquist, University of California, Los Angeles

Robert S. Levine is professor of English at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is author or editor of several books, including “Martin Delany, Frederick Douglass, and the Politics of Representative Identity” and “Martin R. Delany: A Documentary Reader”, both from The University of North Carolina Press.