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musicdeepdive's reviews
453 reviews
Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom by Catherine Clinton
4.0
Tragic how little information there is about Tubman and how much work the author has to do to fill in gaps here. For what it is, the effort is laudable.
Cross of Snow: A Life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow by Nicholas A. Basbanes
4.25
The writing itself is more compelling than its subject, and the subject's wife is more compelling than the subject. Not the combo for a perfect bio, but the combo for a fascinatingly unique and lovely one.
John Brown, Abolitionist: The Man Who Killed Slavery, Sparked the Civil War, and Seeded Civil Rights by David S. Reynolds
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
4.75
Elite summary of Brown's life and legacy - analyzing the mythos of Brown's life while also dispelling certain myths and perceptions surrounding the man.
John Stuart Mill: Victorian Firebrand by Richard V. Reeves
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
The author puts Mill's works into the context of his personality and thoroughly explains the merits of them without losing sight of Mill's personal life, which is impressive especially given how much space he takes to discuss On Liberty. Excellent excellent overview of an early progressive icon and worth a look for any like-minded folks with a taste for history.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, George Woodcock
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
4.75
Obviously the better of Dickens' two historical novels, a heavy and emotional read where any moments of levity are mere grimaces amidst a torrid social climate. One of his more economical novels pacing-wise as well, which prevents the work from getting caught up in extraneous plot detours and allows us to constantly feel that immediate excitement + terror of Revolution-era France and the lives of those involved in it. Arguably the best ending to any Dickens novel, too.