The story of how John Brown, a sober, religious, lonesome boy became the man who led the historic insurrection at Harpers Ferry. John Brown's whole life was a preparation for that one dramatic moment which ended in his execution. Dedicated from childhood to freeing the slaves, his wife, children and everyone close to him became involved in the antislavery movement. Wholeheartedly he devoted his life to the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, resolved to do something about the thousands of slaves who, according to the Constitution were "born free and equal".

He was called a fanatic, a tyrant, a martyr and a madman. His embattled forays in Kansas earned that state the name of bloody Kansas; and his flaming crusade to free the slaves led eventually to his own death in the debacle at Harpers Ferry in 1859.

Yet, for all his violence, John Brown was a deeply religious man. He was possessed of an inner zeal and the pious conviction that all he did was God's will. And his tragedy was not the tragedy of one man—or of the devoted little band that perished with him, but the tragedy of a nation in arms against itself. The story of John Brown is the story of a stormy, bloodstained era in American history in the days that led up to the Civil War.

Jeannette Nolan has done a masterly job of portraying this martyr patriot, whose singleness of purpose made him one of the most amazing characters in history.

From the dust jacket.