More than two centuries after his birth and almost a century and a half after his death, the legendary life and legacy of John Brown go marching on.

First published in 1909, W.E.B. Du Bois's biography of abolitionist John Brown is a literary and historical classic. With a rare combination of scholarship and passion, Du Bois defends Brown against all detractors who saw him as a fanatic, fiend, or traitor. Brown emerges as a rich personality, fully understandable as an unusual leader with a deeply religious outlook and a devotion to the cause of freedom for the slave.

This collection of writings by John Brown after his raid on Harper's Ferry showcase the depth of conviction of Brown's character. Paired with Louis DeCaro's narrative of the aftermath, trial, and execution of John Brown in Freedom's Dawn: The Last Days of John Brown in Virginia.

From his obsession with the founding principles of the United States to his cold-blooded killings in the battle over slavery's expansion, John Brown forced his countrymen to reckon with America's violent history, its checkered progress toward racial equality, and its resistance to substantive change.

John Brown and his violent attacks on slavery have been romanticized through the years. Find out about the man behind the myth and learn about his contribution to the abolitionist movement. The book is complete with timeline, primary sources, photographs, and excerpts from the time period.