On the night of August 21, 1831, black slaves in Southampton County, Virginia gathered around Nat Turner (1800-1831), a charismatic fellow slave who had gained a following due to this anti-slavery rhetoric and calls for action. Turner and his followers were determined to revolt against the dehumanizing system of slavery and chose that night to launch their rebellion. By the time it was over, fifty-five people were dead before federal authorities arrived to take control of the situation. Turner was later captured, tried, and subsequently executed on November 11, 1831. Although he failed to abolish slavery, Nat Turner inspired others to resist and to this day, his name is mentioned in discussions of slave revolts of the 1800s. When I saw this book, it immediately caught my attention because although I knew of Nat Turner, there were aspects of his life which were a mystery to me. And what I found in this book are the answers to the questions I had about his life, and a sobering picture of his rebellion which shook slave masters to their core.

Readers should be aware that this book is not a “feel good” story. Turner’s short life was turbulent and ended violently. Further, the author introduces us to life for slaves in the early 1800s, and what we learn about Nat’s early life is difficult to accept. Despite the sensitive subject matter, the story is intriguing, and I learned a great deal about Nat Turner and his evolution to iconic freedom fighter. Today it seems incomprehensible that humans were forced to live in bondage in a country which was founded on the idea of freedom. However, in 1831, that was a cold hard reality in America. The brutal system of slavery is on display here, and there are moments which are heartbreaking. And it is impossible to put into words the grief felt by slaves whose families were separated on auction blocks and at the deadly hands of slave masters fueled by vengeance. The constant dehumanization and lack of purpose in life, combined with the darkest aspects of slavery to create a potent brew which laid the foundation for Turner’s final act.

Eventually the eve of August 22, 1831, arrives and something is in the air. Nat gathered his devoted followers and informed them at this was the night to make their vision a reality. Early in the morning on August 22, the rebellion was in full swing, and a wave of carnage fell over Southampton County. At this point, the book takes a sharp turn as the violence escalates but the author is careful about describing the events. As a result, the unsettling story does not feel like a recitation of gratuitous violence but a trip back in time to an event which was unthinkable in the North and South. As Turner and his followers unleashed a campaign of terror, fear spread like wildfire across Virginia. Washington soon took notice and sent the calvary to restore order. But before the military reaches Virginia, retribution by slave owners and bloodthirsty whites against blacks in the state is nothing short of barbaric. The violence was so disturbing that even hardened soldiers were unnerved.  And had the military not reached Southampton County in time, things would have been far worse.

As Turner’s associates fall one by one, the writing is on the wall, and we know that the price to be paid will be death. However, Turner was not afraid and makes a statement to fellow defendants after sentencing showing that the rebellion was neither for fame nor riches. For Nat, it was from the heart and based on his belief that a violent overthrow was the only way to free black people. But was he justified in his actions? I am certain that readers will ask themselves this very question as the story progresses. I must warn you that after Turner is executed, the story is a little macabre. Frankly, post-mortem actions by those seeking to erase any physical trace of him are beyond sickening. But if you reach that part of the story it will come as no surprise. And as chaotic as the story is, I could not stop reading and found myself glued to the book. The story is nothing short of surreal.

After the main narrative ends, the author provides an epilogue which focuses on his modern-day visits to the areas in which the events in the story played out. His encounters with locals are unusual but reveal that America still has a long way to go in some regards. Nat Turner’s rebellion was short lived, but he earned his place in history through the rebellion he launched to dismantle the system of slavery which took everything from those in its grip. The story is unsettling at times, but a critical part of American history which is not always as glorious as we would like it to be. And though we are far removed from the era in which Nat Turner lived, his story and that of Southampton, Virginia, are reminders of America’s blook soaked. Oates’ book does not glorify or demonize Turner but presents the story for the reader to digest. Nat Turner’s name will forever be linked with slave rebellion, and the debate about his actions will also continue. He lived a violent life in a violent time, in a country that knows violence all too well. But history’s greatest gift is giving us the chance to make sure it is not repeated. If you want to know more about Nat Turner and his rebellion of 1831, this is what you are looking for.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000XU4TAO
Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins e-books