Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom by Ilyon WooMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
It is Wednesday, December 20, 1848, when a young invalid gentleman and his enslaved man board a train in Macon, Georgia, heading north to visit family in Philadelphia. At least, it appeared to be the case. In actuality, the young man was Ellen Craft, an enslaved woman whose skin was so light that she could pass as white, and with her was her husband William, who acted as her enslaved man. Ellen and William were charged to different enslavers and Ellen's future in Macon was in doubt. With the expectation that Ellen would be sold soon to an enslaver in New Orleans, she and William devised a detailed plan to escape under disguise, not as husband and wife, but as master and slave.
Ilyon Woo details their journey and their life of freedom as activists in the States and abroad. Over time, their story was mostly forgotten. Woo brings that story back to life, utilizing the Crafts' autobiography, as well as a plethora of diaries, letters, newspapers, and other primary resources. During her research, Woo meticulously sought to corroborate the Crafts' story in their autobiography, mostly with success. Highly readable non-fiction that often reads like a novel.
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