The Great Abolitionist: Charles Sumner and the Fight for a More Perfect Union

by Stephen Puleo

The groundbreaking biography of a forgotten civil rights hero.

In the tempestuous mid-19th century, as slavery consumed Congressional debate and America careened toward civil war and split apart–when the very future of the nation hung in the balance–Charles Sumner’s voice rang strongest, bravest, and most unwavering. Where others preached compromise and moderation, he denounced slavery’s evils to all who would listen and demanded that it be wiped out of existence. More than any other person of his era, he blazed the trail on the country’s long, uneven, and ongoing journey toward realizing its full promise to become a more perfect union.

Before and during the Civil War, at great personal sacrifice, Sumner was the conscience of the North and the most influential politician fighting for abolition. Throughout Reconstruction, no one championed the rights of emancipated people more than he did. Through the force of his words and his will, he moved America toward the twin goals of abolitionism and equal rights, which he fought for literally until the day he died. He laid the cornerstone arguments that civil rights advocates would build upon over the next century as the country strove to achieve equality among the races.

The Great Abolitionist is the first major biography of Charles Sumner to be published in over 50 years. Acclaimed historian Stephen Puleo relates the story of one of the most influential political figures in American history with evocative and accessible prose, transporting readers back to an era when our leaders exhibited true courage and authenticity in the face of unprecedented challenges.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Politics, American History, Civil War, 19th Century

448 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 23, 2024

About the author

Stephen Puleo is an author, historian, teacher, public speaker, and communications professional. His eighth book, The Great Abolitionist: Charles Sumner and the Fight for a More Perfect Union, was published by St. Martin’s Press in April, 2024.

Follow Steve on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/stephenpuleo...) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/puleosteve/) or visit his website (https://www.stephenpuleo.com/) for current news and events.

Steve's previously published books are:
• Voyage of Mercy: The USS Jamestown, the Irish Famine, and the Remarkable Story of America’s First Humanitarian Mission (2020)
• American Treasures: The Secret Efforts to Save the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Gettysburg Address (2016)
• The Caning: The Assault That Drove America to Civil War (2012)
• A City So Grand: The Rise of an American Metropolis, Boston 1850-1900 (2010)
• The Boston Italians: A Story of Pride, Perseverance and Paesani, from the Years of the Great Immigration to the Present Day (2007)
• Due to Enemy Action: The True World War II Story of the USS Eagle 56 (2005)
• Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 (2003)

All of Steve’s books have been Boston regional bestsellers and have received national recognition. His work has been reviewed favorably by the Wall Street Journal, the New Yorker, the Boston Globe, the New York Post, Parade magazine, The National Review, Forbes.com, C-SPAN, the Associated Press, the Portland Press Herald, the Providence Journal, the Hartford Courant, Kirkus Reviews, Barnes and Noble Review.com, Library Journal, Booklist, History.com, and Publishers Weekly. Numerous national media outlets have interviewed Steve, including NBC, the New York Times, Parade magazine, History.com, C-SPAN, the History Channel, the Associated Press, and regional and national radio and television outlets.

An experienced, dynamic, and in-demand speaker and presenter, Steve has made nearly 700 appearances before thousands of readers – including bookstore signings, keynote addresses, library presentations, historical societies, industry events, book clubs, and appearances at universities and public and private schools. His showcase appearances include: speaking events at both the National Archives and the National Constitution Center; as a keynote for the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the Massachusetts Superior Court; and as a participant with Italian-American and Jewish-American scholars on a panel entitled, Italy and the Holocaust, presented at UMass-Boston. If you would like more information about having Steve appear at your event, please contact him at spuleo@aol.com.

A former award-winning newspaper reporter and contributor of articles and book reviews to publications and organizations that include American History magazine, Politico, the Boston Globe, and the Bill of Rights Institute, Steve has also taught history at Suffolk University in Boston and at UMass-Boston. He has developed and taught numerous writing workshops for high school and college students, as well as for adults who aspire to be writers. His books have been woven into the curricula of numerous high schools and colleges, and more than 30 communities have selected his books as “community-wide reads.” Steve also conducts book-club tours of Boston’s North End, one of the nation’s most historic neighborhoods.

Steve holds a master’s degree in history from UMass-Boston, where he received the Dean’s Award for Academic Achievement and was the Graduate Convocation keynote speaker. His master’s thesis, From Italy to Boston’s North End: Italian Immigration and Settlement, 1890-1910, has been downloaded nearly 30,000 times by scholars and readers around the world.

Steve and his wife Kate live south of Boston and donate a portion of his book proceeds to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

Reviews

[Brendan (History Nerds United) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before Will Smith and Chris Rock at the Oscars, there was Preston Brooks and Charles Sumner in the Senate. Sumner took way more than a single slap, though.

Charles Sumner takes up a strange place in the American consciousness. He is, by far, most known for the caning he took from Brooks. His stellar abolitionist credentials are overshadowed by Thaddeus Stevens who stole the spotlight in the movie Lincoln. (Fun fact: Sumner was actually in the movie, too. I checked!) Due to this slight, Stephen Puleo is here to resurrect all of Sumter the way Spielberg did for Stevens, but in book form! My favorite!

The Great Abolitionist is a wonderful biography of a man who had an unassailable passion for abolition, but would probably not be the first person you'd invite to a dinner. I always appreciate biographies more when they don't shy away from the negative attributes of the subject. Sumter was unbending, arrogant, and what can generously be described as aloof. He had friends, but they had to see past a lot of negative personality traits. Also, the less said about his marriage the better.

Puleo focuses mostly on where Sumter fits into the political machinations from right before the Civil War to the end of Reconstruction. I certainly learned a lot about him and I think I am generally well read on the Civil War era. Puleo makes everything interesting while being informative but the first half (pre-caning) was much more interesting to me than post-caning. I don't blame Puleo for this as it seems to me Sumter's life after the attack loses some life. He becomes more of a passenger to the greater events going on as opposed to a catalyst. It's a very minor critique, which again, is not Puleo's fault and just more of a statement on how badly Sumter's life was affected. This is still a must read for any Civil War nerd.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press.)

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Great Abolitionist is one of the most captivating nonfiction books I have read. While researching James Alexander Hamilton, I came across Charles Sumner, even a few letters exchanged between the two men, so I had already included a few bits about him in my own book. Now, I feel like I need to go back and add more. Charles Sumner's courage and absolute certainty in his stance for equality is astounding for his time and in the face of the persecution he endured. I'm not sure how many times I said, "Wow," as I was reading this. It's not just a great biography of Charles Sumner but a thought provoking study of an era when seismic shifts in mindset had to occur for black Americans to begin to experience equality.

I knew about Sumner's Bleeding Kansas speech and the horrific attack that put the South's admiration for violence on public display, but I found that there is much more about Charles Sumner that I didn't know. Puleo's powerful prologue shows us Sumner at Lincoln's deathbed. By this time, Sumner had long experienced and expected violence directed toward himself, but he was still shocked by that against the president. "The Confederate states and 'belligerent slavery' . . . had been 'defeated in battle' and thus had resorted to the most dishonorable, degrading, and cowardly act - assassination."

Then the author takes us back to the beginning of Sumner's fight, decades before anyone knew Abraham Lincoln's name. I found it interesting that "In Sumner's view, the fact that the Constitution did not even contain the word 'slavery' proved that the Founders refused to let it 'pollute its text.'" Hamilton brothers, James and John, wrote along similar lines, and I had not realized that they were inspired by Sumner. Modern readers may not understand the significance of this. For those who were strong believers in the Constitution, like James A Hamilton, they had long accepted that the federal government had no power to impede slavery within states. Reconsidering the Constitution's stance (or lack thereof) on slavery was radical and necessary.

My favorite part of this book was learning about Charles Sumner fighting against school segregation a century before integration was finally accomplished. How exciting to learn that he was demanding equality before the law so very far ahead of its time! Sumner was not afraid to shame his peers, arguing that "school segregation was Boston's own 'peculiar institution,' in the same way that slavery was the South's." If only the judge in this case had shared Sumner's courage, this decision upholding segregation might not have been used as a legal precedent for 100 years.

Puleo traces Sumner's journey from the Whig party to the Free Soilers and finally as a member of the new Republican party. It seems astonishing in our time to see such political transitions. Perhaps we should take a lesson from our ancestors and follow our values more staunchly than our red or blue team. These shifts were necessary to bring together people with the power to finally stand up against slavery and the Southern politicians who had been controlling the country since its founding.

Sumner's own suffering encouraged people to rethink their political loyalties. When he was violently attacked and almost killed - at his desk in front of other congressmen - people of the north were horrified. They were further disgusted by the celebrations in the south and the many who stated Sumner deserved the beating for his strong words against slavery and those who practiced it. Those who had been on the fence started picking sides. "We went to bed one night, old fashioned, conservative, compromise Union Whigs, and waked up stark mad Abolitionists!"

I could go on and on about this book. We haven't even talked about the Civil War and Sumner's striving to include suffrage, equality, and integration with emancipation. He continued to fight for laws that wouldn't become reality until the 20th century. His perseverance and unshakable belief in what he was fighting for is an inspiration. That being said, the author doesn't shy away from sharing Sumner's weaknesses - his social awkwardness, uncompromising attitude, and failed marriage. The result is a realistic and inspiring portrait of a man we could all learn a lot from. I encourage everyone to read this book.

I received this book through NetGalley. Opinions are my own.

[Colleen Browne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read an earlier (much longer) biography of Sumner but was glad to see another one since I believe that "the great emancipator" is little known and does not receive the credit he deserves in fighting for equality among the races in this country. Generally, it is an excellent biography and gives Sumner the credit he deserves for his life work but there are a few weaknesses as well.

While the book does contain an adequate bibliography, Puleo seems to think that excuses the lack of citations in the book. Every historical essay contains a detailed bibliography but that does not replace citations and the lack of them in the book degrades the work, in my opinion, There are many instances where his interpretations varied from better-known ones and therefore demand citations. As a historian trained in the Chicago Method/Kate Turabian Method, I recognize their importance.

There is one thing that I found a bit annoying in parts of the book. Sometimes the language seems a bit too flowery for history but as that is just my opinion, I did not take off stars for it. Something that perhaps should have resulted in fewer than four starts is the author's tendency to give Sumner almost exclusive credit for every reform and advance he fought for. While he was certainly very influential and deserves credit for it, he was not alone and Puleo should have recognized that.

Overall, the book is informative and relates details and interpretations of decisions and events in Sumner's life not usually included in studies of him. The book is very readable and for those unfamiliar with the Senator's contributions to the fight against slavery, I highly recommend the book.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen Puleo's "The Great Abolitionist" reveals the indomitable spirit of a forgotten hero, Charles Sumner. In the tumultuous mid-19th century, as the United States grappled with the looming specter of slavery and teetered on the precipice of civil war, Sumner's voice emerged as a signal of unwavering resolve and moral fortitude.

This biography brings to life a man whose convictions blazed a trail towards a more perfect union. While others advocated compromise and moderation, Charles Sumner fearlessly denounced the abhorrent institution of slavery. He demanded its utter annihilation, proclaiming the need for justice and equality.

Puleo portrays Sumner as the conscience of the North, a relentless champion of abolition. His sacrifices, unwavering dedication, and personal cost in the fight for emancipation are illuminated in detail. Sumner's influence extended far beyond the Civil War, as he continued to champion the rights of the oppressed during the tumultuous era of Reconstruction.

Through the force of his words and his unyielding will, Charles Sumner played a primary role in moving America toward the twin goals of abolitionism and equal rights. His groundbreaking arguments and tireless advocacy laid the cornerstone upon which future civil rights advocates would build as they embarked on the long and arduous journey toward racial equality.

Puleo's narrative, written with evocative and accessible language, invites us to journey back in time, immersing ourselves in an era when leaders exhibited courage and authenticity in the face of unprecedented challenges. "The Great Abolitionist" is a reminder of the enduring struggle for justice, equality, and a more perfect union. Charles Sumner's legacy is, without a doubt, an inspiring tribute to the power of conviction in the face of adversity.

In "The Great Abolitionist," Stephen Puleo resurrects the memory of a hero whose unwavering dedication refused to let the torch of hope be extinguished. This book serves as a tribute to a man who, against formidable odds, ignited the torch of justice and fairness, spearheading the quest for a more equitable and promising future for everyone.

"An unflinching portrait of Charles Sumner's heroic crusade."

"Stephen Puleo's gripping account of an unsung hero."

"A masterful biography of Charles Sumner's abolitionist journey."

"A timeless tribute to the great abolitionist."

"Sumner's courage and conviction brought to life."

"An unforgettable exploration of Sumner's legacy."

"Stephen Puleo's vivid portrait of a forgotten civil rights hero."

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Sumner was twenty-seven, on a European tour in France when he observed students of different races, “jaunty” “men of fashion”, interacting as equals. He at once understood that education, and not nature, had divided black from white. He dedicated the rest of his life fighting to fulfilling the promise of American equality. At a time when abolitionists were disdained radicals he spoke out for the end of slavery, and when the North finally embraced abolition, he pushed for even more radical laws protecting equality and conferring voting rights.

The story of Sumner’s career is also the story of America’s division and its awakening and embracing the humanity of the enslaved. Sadly, with every victory and advance came a whiplash of brutality and violence, and the conflict over race and equality continues to this day.

This is the story of single-minded commitment to justice. After Sumner was caned nearly to death on the floor on congress, taking years to physically recover and left with post traumatic stress syndrome, he persevered in his mission. And, it is the story of America’s original sin and its legacy.

Sumner was an imperfect man, a lonely man, who could be cold and difficult, and he was a failed husband. He held lifelong deep friendships with luminaries like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his wife, was a close advisor President Lincoln and stayed with the dying president, and was a dear friend to Mrs. Lincoln, supporting her through the loss of her son and helping to secure her a pension after her husband’s tragic death.

I had been reading around Sumner’s life in various books, and was thrilled with every page of this revealing biography, impressed by the depth of Sumner’s impact on American history.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who has read Civil War history [both nonfiction and historical ficton] knows about Charles Sumner. A staunch and unrepentant [thankfully] abolitionist [ we need more like him right now], Mr. Sumner fought for the rights of the enslaved and then for reconstruction [and the safety and rights of the formerly enslaved] until he died and many that came after were inspired by him and his work and continued on in his name and actions.

In this book, you learn all about this [and the other work he did for other marginalized peoples], and you also learn about the attack on Mr. Sumner by a despicable man [Preston Brooks, a name I can barely write as he was a cad and certainly NOT the gentleman he thought he was and certainly NEVER received the punishment due him {ah, the joys of the american justice system - rewarding criminals for years and years and years...], though karma came along and did what justice wouldn't]; a caning [nearly to death] on the floor of the Congress, that Mr. Sumner never fully recovered from [and left him in barely manageable pain and severe PTSD], and how even this heinous act did not diminish his work and fire. He was a real force to be reckoned with.

An introverted man who was awkward, often cold and distant, and deeply lonely [even amongst people], he had few friends [though the ones he DID have were spectacular {one of this best friends was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow!!!} and the supported him 100%, in his career, in his illness, and especially during his dangerous and damaging marriage], but he was deeply loyal to them, to his cause, to President Lincoln [and his family, especially Mary Todd Lincoln, after the assassination] and never once backed down from his belief [even after the hideous caning] that ALL men were indeed, created equal.

An absolutely magnificent book and a must read for history buffs everywhere.

Thank you to NetGalley, Stephen Puleo, and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Joann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5 rating. A thorough and comprehensive account of Charles Sumner who never wavered from his firm commitment to rid the country of slavery and inequality among people. His life was lonely as he tirelessly advocated for this cause. His association with Lincoln was interesting and shed light on a personal connection that might be overlooked or given second rating in other accounts.

[Jarred Goodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent work...Puleo produces a comprehensive biography about a Senator way ahead of his time in his vision for America, for which America still works on today, but would not be in it's current position without him...

[slauderdale]

The more you know. 8) From this book, I learned that Charles Sumner was the first person to use the phrase "Equality before the Law" in the United States, and he assiduously promulgated this very key term/principle in the 1849 case of Sarah C. Roberts v. The City of Boston, aimed at the desegregation of Boston schools. On this occasion he was not successful: segregated schools would not be outlawed in Boston until 1855 (and, uh, it's been kind of a checkered 170 years since then.)

Puleo says that this was "translated from the French égalité devant la loi." This is true, but interestingly, I've discovered that Sumner never seems to state the phrase *in* its original French. He certainly got it from there, as he says himself in Charles Sumner; His Complete Works, Volume III: "The term "Equality before the Law was here for the first time introduced into our discussions. It is not found in the Common Law, nor until recently in the English language. It is a translation from the French, whence Mr. Sumner took it." (Yes, this is in the third person. Yes, Mr. Sumner is talking about himself.) In the text of the Argument that follows he goes on to lay out the history of the principle/term as it appears in Constitutions of Government pursuant to the French Revolution. So yes, super definitely, he got it from the French. However, the only foreign (er, non-English) iteration of the phrase he actually spells out is in the Greek. Dig it!

"The Charter of Louis Philippe testifies as follows: "Frenchmen are equal before the law, whatever may be their titles and ranks." Nor was its use confined to France. It passed into other constitutions, and Napoleon, who so often trampled on the rights of Equality, dictated to the Poles the declaration, that all persons are equal before the law. Thus the phrase is not only French, but Continental, although never English.

"While recognizing this particular form of speech as more specific and satisfactory than the statement that all men are born equal, it is impossible not to be reminded that it finds a prototype in the ancient Greek language, where, according to Herodotus, "the government of the many has the most beautiful name of all, ἰσονομία, isonomy" which may be defined Equality before the Law. Thus, in an age when Equality before the Law was practically unknown, this remarkable language, by its comprehensiveness and flexibility, supplied a single word, not found in modern tongues, to express an idea practically recognized only in modern times. Such a word in our own language, as the substitute for Equality, might have superseded criticism to which this declaration is exposed."

Damn, Charles. 8) Incidentally, I would probably not have known this if I hadn't been reading another book right after The Great Abolitionist, Athens 415, that also brought up "isonomia, equality before the law." (There must be a name for this phenomenon where you see something somewhere and then it's like you immediately see it somewhere else. Synchronicity?) Anyway, given all the discussion of "equality before the law" in The Great Abolitionist and seeing this mention so soon afterward, I couldn't resist a Google run on "isonomia" charles sumner to see if he ever used that word specifically.

-.-.-.-

Whatever. A lot of preamble, to little real substance. I enjoyed this biography, but I have a beef. A few months ago I read read Puleo's The Caning: The Assault that Drove America to Civil War. One of those synchronicity things again - I didn't know he had just come out with a full biography of Sumner back in April, so I was pretty interested when I heard, particularly since the impression one almost gets at the start of The Caning is that Puleo is going to be more sympathetic to Preston Brooks. (Cribbing from my reading log: "Others (including Puleo himself) comment on the author's sympathy for Brooks, but I'm not sure why the malforming effects of 18th century Southern chivalry are due more sympathy than the malforming effects of Sumner's upbringing. But I also don't find beating an unarmed man senseless while his lower legs are pinned beneath a desk chivalrous.") It is an impression that actually reading The Caning didn't ultimately bear out, at least not for me, because I definitely finished the book more interested in and sympathetic to Charles Sumner, nor did I ultimately feel as if Puleo was short on sympathy for Sumner. Still, it did leave me wondering about Puleo, and finding out he had a newly published biography of Sumner, I was really interested in that.

Why did he decide to write a biography? What was his continuing interest in Sumner? What were his feelings about his earlier book, The Caning? Did writing The Caning change or develop his ideas about Sumner as a person/politician, or had his ideas changed or developed since then?

I was interested in that kind of personal narrative, so I was sad that I never really got it. It's weird, though: this book doesn't even *mention* that the author wrote an earlier book about Charles Sumner until his bibliographic essay at the end: "My 2012 book, The Caning: The Assault that Drove America to Civil War (Yardley, Penn.: Westholme), provides a limited biographical look at Sumner for the years up to the 1856 attack by Preston Brooks. [...] For a full list of sources on the caning of Charles Sumner by South Carolina congressman Preston Brooks, please see my own previously mentioned 2012 book: The Caning: The Assault that Drove America to Civil War."

I think he should have mentioned his previous book much earlier, because he often incorporates whole sections of text verbatim from the previous book, in a way I found kind of surprising. Compare the first three paragraphs of The Caning, Five, "The Making of Charles Sumner" and the first three paragraphs of The Great Abolitionist, Chapter 2, "'It Touched Me To the Soul'": they are almost verbatim. And this happened throughout the book - I'd hit something in The Great Abolitionist, go hmm, and go find it verbatim in The Caning. I know it's his own work, it's not plagiarism, but I still think it would have been better to mention his earlier book about Sumner and to indicate that he was doing this, ie. effectively expanding or at least incorporating broad portions of that earlier book.

I will say that some of the minor changes that he makes are pretty gratifying. For example, he amended a parenthetical that really annoyed me in The Caning:

"In fact, Sumner's repeated sexual references in the speech, his use of words like "harlot," "virgin," and "rape" were likely particularly galling to Southern slaveholders who repeated chafed at stubborn rumors (many proven true after the Civil War) that they sometimes engaged in sexual relations with their slaves and even sired children."

In The Great Abolitionist, this becomes:

"In fact, Sumner's repeated sexual references in the speech, his use of words like "harlot," "virgin," and "rape", were particularly galling to Southern slaveholders who repeated chafed at stubborn rumors (many proven true) that some engaged in sexual relations with their slaves."

Yes. There was no "after the Civil War" about it. This was super known at the time.

I also liked a footnote that he added in this book, p. 26: "Any sort of historical medical diagnosis, especially nearly two hundred years after the fact, is fraught with peril. That said Sumner, displayed - and some historians have observed this - several symptoms of what today would be labeled as Asperger's syndrome ... " This was kind of screaming at me from the pages of The Caning, although Puleo never mentioned the words "Asperger's" or "autism" there, and I did think there was value in acknowledging it as a possibility.

-.-.-.-

All in all, I enjoyed reading this book, even so soon after The Caning. I liked the larger overview of Sumner's life and career, and I especially enjoyed reading about his work during and after the Civil War - so, probably the opposite of most readers, who would mostly be here for the caning and the fallout of the caning, but since I'd already read that in fuller detail in the 2012 book, it was very satisfying to see Sumner carry on the good work afterward. It's like before I'd had this impression that he got caned and then he never fully recovered, but that's just not true. Certainly it had a lasting effect on him, and he had three awful years there (The Vacant Chair), but he ultimately picked up again with a busy career and much influence in various spheres: Massachusetts State Senator till 1874, indefatigable abolitionist, irrepressible foe to segregation, CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS (he basically single-handedly saved us from war with England re: the Trent Affair), confidant to President Lincoln, friend to Mrs. Lincoln, vocal critic and enemy to President Johnson - Charles Sumner was a national treasure.

What a guy. 8)

[Dona's Books]

The introduction scared me right off of this one. I can't personally understand the author's refusal to capitalize the 'B' in Black when referring to Black persons or people.

I knew right away that I wasn't the audience for this one. But other readers will I'm sure love it.

[Christopher C. Gorham · Rating 5 out of 5]

In THE GREAT ABOLITIONIST we feel the cold wind in the cobbled streets of mid 19th century Boston and hear the stifled sobs at Abraham Lincoln’s deathbed in April 1865. The subject of Stephen Puleo’s eight book is Charles Sumner, a lawyer and U.S. Senator who was a leading voice of antislavery during the tumultuous two decades before the Civil War. As the nation was adding Texas, rushing west for gold, and vainly seeking a compromise on slavery to avoid war, Puleo paints Sumner’s morality as a constant. We are in the courtroom as he argues against the inherent inequality of segregated schools (a century before Brown v. Board of Education), and the drawing room as Sumner persuades the sixteenth president to publicly stand for abolition. Sumner’s ideals cost him friendships and resulted in a bloody assault on the floor of the senate by a pro-slavery congressman. Puleo’s rich biographical history is a perfectly timed reminder that to survive, our union needs figures with the courage to stand for core ideals which cannot be compromised.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty solid biography of Charles Sumner. It gives good insight into a person who was hugely influential both through his official acts and as a symbol. It truly acts as a comprehensive biography and not just the tumultuous times around the slavery debate, his beating by Preston Brooks, and the civil rights struggle immediately following the Civil War. All of those take up the bulk of the book (for obvious reasons), but the rest of it gives a larger meaning and motivation behind those fights.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Sumner’s fame is for being caned on the Senate floor more than his pivotal role in ending slavery. Steven Puleo shows how Sumner’s drive, skills and moral commitment brought slavery to the fore and laid the foundation for Black citizenship, voting rights and integration.

Sumner was a visionary. He began as the lone and much maligned voice for emancipation. He spoke of the moral high ground. He demonstrated that the US Constitution, which does not mention slavery, guarantees rights thereby making slavery illegal. His oratory inspired the conscience of the north and popular opinion fueled the development of the Republican and Free Soil parties. Thinking ahead, he saw citizenship, voting rights, civil rights and integration as necessary for protecting against “re-enslavement”.

Sumner worked on small gains as he pressed towards larger ones. For instance, he advocated the non-return of slaves who had been pressed into war service (framed as a war time necessity, it effectively overturned Dred Scott) and ending slavery in the Capitol District ("sold" on optics and moral grounds). He pushed to have the 14th Amendment include language that would have prohibited “separate but equal” and impediments to voting (i.e. literacy tests and poll taxes). While much was left to future generations, the amendment guarantee of the voting right was major progress.

Puleo shows the relationship of Sumner and Lincoln in a way that I had not seen before. Sumner (who sees the war as one to end slavery) pushes Lincoln (who sees the war as one to hold the union together) on freedom and civil rights issues.

A lot was accomplished in Sumner’s three terms as a Senator. You see Sumner's role in events that furthered the cause: the admission of new states, Sumner’s extreme injuries from the caning assault, the elections of 1856 and 1860, the war, potential wars with Britain, Lincoln’s assassination, reconstruction and the impeachment of President Johnson, Sumner’s marriage and his declining health.

There are quotes from Sumner’s oratory. His words and concepts can apply to today’s issues. Unlike Lincoln whose rhetoric is lofty, Sumner’s is practical and fiery.

Puleo has honored Sumner through this book. This shows him to be farther ahead on emancipation than Lincoln. Thaddeus Stevens, who is the senator more often associated with emancipation, is hardly mentioned. From what is documented here, you cannot help wonder how long US slavery might have continued without Sumner.

There are no photos or plates. There is an index and the notes are presented by chapter in essay fashion.

This is very well written. It keeps your interest and gives you a lot to think about. I highly recommend it for readers of history.

[A Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work is a biography of Charles Sumner, a staunch abolitionist who spent his years in politics fighting for the freedom of all men and women in the United States, regardless of race. While there are some inclusions of his earlier life, it mostly focuses on the portions of his life that are relevant to his fight for changing the law. This is the first biography of Sumner published in over 50 years.

The author mentions that Sumner is often overlooked, partially due to the fact that he was often moody and self-centered when it came to his emotions. I enjoyed how this was explored through primary sources and quotes from Sumner himself relating to his emotional state. I also hadn't realized that he somewhat straddled political parties, which often kept him from being accepted by anyone, or just how inflammatory he was (e.g., using coarse sexual terms in his Senate speeches to get points across regarding slavery's evils or making personal comments about his rivals). I enjoyed that he wasn't depicted as being perfect or always making the right choices.

The book also includes plenty of historical context about things going on around Sumner or events related to policies he was pushing for, especially relating to equal rights and the abolition of slavery. I was interested to learn about the court case that he and Robert Morris, a Black attorney, presented to the Massachusetts Supreme Court about integration in schools in the 1840s. They were the first interracial legal team in U.S. history. I also enjoyed learning the background that led to a South Carolinian caning Sumner in an infamous (in the U.S.) incident and how drastically it affected his ability to continue his advocacy. I don't tend to find myself interested in Civil War history, but I did enjoy this work as it provided a lot of background to the escalation that led to war through the lens of Sumner's involvement in these events. The Civil War begins approximately halfway through the work, but the author doesn’t shift the focus much from Sumner.

My only dislike was that there were no superscripts in the text to help know which source the author got certain information from. This was a fascinating and informative read that I highly recommend if you're interested in United States history or the Civil War. There’s a significant amount of history included, but I never found this work dry or lost interest. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[noreast_bookreviewsnh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Great Abolitionist: Charles Sumner and the fight for a more perfect Union by Stephen Puleo
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A brilliant read highlighting the iron willed Senator Charles Sumner of Boston, Massachusetts. A man whose ideals of equality were far ahead of his time, was thankfully so stubborn and incorruptible that he pushed the country toward his way of thinking before, during and after the civil war. Sumner was initially seen as an extremist for his views on human rights and hatred of slavery, but the cotton kingdom of the south and the northern businessmen- who all profited massively from slavery -refused to speak on the subject at all; not so for Charles Sumner. The good senator led the way toward abolishing slavery by bravely speaking out against its evils even when everyone else told him to leave it alone and be quiet. Sumner was savagely assaulted with a cane by congressmen Preston Brooks on the senate floor which left him debilitated for years to come. But Sumner didn’t let that stop him, he worked very hard to recover physically and emotionally from his wounds and made his way back to the senate to fight another day, this time in the midst of a civil war that torn the nation apart. Sumner was instrumental in keeping Lincoln and the USA out of war with England in the beginning stages of the civil war, and was Lincoln’s go to expert on foreign affairs. Sumner and the Lincoln’s were good friends and Lincoln slowly came around to Sumner’s ideas on abolition and equality. After Lincoln’s death, Sumner fought for the establishment of civil rights for freedmen with the 13th,14th and 15th amendments. Sumner had few friends, many enemies, and was a lonely man who was a bit difficult to get along with. His family life was not great either, with few deep relationships and connections, and really only got satisfaction out of his work on equality and civil rights. He is buried in a humble grave in Cambridge, MA and his role in the civil war and reconstruction era are diminished in history. This book rightfully restores Senator Sumner to the greatness that he had during his lifetime. Thank god for forward thinking men who made our country move in the right direction.

[Mr. Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can also see this review, along with others I have written, at my blog, Mr. Book's Book Reviews.

Mr. Book just finished The Great Abolitionist: Charles Sumner And The Fight For A More Perfect Union, by Stephen Puleo.

Sumner’s place in history always seems to be limited to him being the victim of a vicious attack on the floor of the Senate by Preston Brooks. But what this book shows is there was far more to his career and that should not be what he is remembered for. Sumner was one of the leading abolitionists of the time. Puleo did an excellent job portraying that side of this important Senator’s career.

In addition to his career in the Senate, the other highlight of this book was the case of Roberts v. City of Boston, which Sumner argued in front of the Massachusetts Supreme Court in 1849 and decided in 1850. Sumner argued in favor of desegregating the Boston schools. A Boston newspaper called his argument “clear and convincing” and presented it in its entirety on the front page.

Sumner lost the case unanimously, with Chief Justice Shaw introducing the infamous “separate but equal” phrase into American jurisprudence. But, despite that loss, several years later, the legislature abolished segregated schools in 1855. And, despite the loss, Thurgood Marshall “found inspiration for his Brown v. Board of Education argument in Charles Sumner’s groundbreaking 1849 argument in the Sarah Roberts case.”

Another very fascinating aspect of Sumner’s career was the 15th Amendment. He was a huge proponent of the 13th and 14th Amendments, but could not enthusiastically support the 15th. Sumner had attempted to go much further and ban all voting restrictions, including property qualifications, literacy tests and even gender discrimination. When his efforts there failed, he considered what what was left to be too little for his liking.

A great feature of history books is the little hidden factual tidbits that they always contain. One great example from this book is the fact that, in the 1850s, South Carolina required candidates for Congress to own at least 10 slaves in order to be eligible to run.

I give this book an A. Goodreads requires grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).

This review has been posted at my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews, and Goodreads.

Mr. Book finished reading this on September 10, 2024.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are lots of good biographies out there, but every once in a rare while I read one I feel is exceptional. The Great Abolitionist is the one I feel is exceptional. So many biographies are dense and dry, and it's hard to stay engaged in the person you're reading about. Even though Charles Sumner was often perceived as a cold and arrogant man, Stephen Puleo turned me into an ardent cheerleader for the man, after I was already an ardent cheerleader for the cause he devoted his life to. This book isn't necessarily a comprehensive biography; it doesn't extensively cover his childhood or the very end of his life. But it does focus heavily on the most impactful time of his life - the time leading up to his time serving in the Senate and his years in office there fighting against slavery. The book is incredibly readable, even for those who don't regularly read non-fiction. Because of Puleo's writing style, I will remember things I didn't know about Sumner before reading this. Even one of things he is most known for, being viciously caned on the Senate floor, feels like it has the build-up to it that a hero faces in a story, with the subsequent battle to resume the cause he fights for. I admire the fact that Sumner never backed down from his ideals, even when they weren't popular, even when there might have been personal incentive to. In a world of politics today, someone that is essentially uncorruptible is virtually unheard of. While compromise has it values, so do principles. I would encourage anyone to read this book and get a new look at a historical figure that doesn't get his due and did so fighting for a cause that was radically unpopular when he took it up, but was in desperate need of someone just like him as a champion. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Great Abolitionist by Stephen Puleo is an inspiring and inforomative nonfiction book about an admirable man. Charles Sumner was a forward-thinking and courageous man. This book allows the reader to sink into his world and get to know the time he lived in.

The book starts with a fantastic and powerful prologue that shows Sumner at Lincoln's deathbed. He has been subjected to much vile hatred and violence by this time, but is still shocked by the shooting of the president. After this emotional scene, the author takes the reader back to the beginning of Sumner's story, decades earlier. We learn about his views on slavery, his analysis of the Constitution and its application. We trace his political affiliations, and watch as he rethinks his loyalties, changing parties more than once.

There were so many surprises, but perhaps the one I will remember most was to find him fighting for school integration one hundred years before it was accomplished. His arguments were strong and demanding. He told people how wrong they were. It was incredibly inspiring to me.

Excellent book. Thank you to the publisher for my #gifted copy.

[Ron Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sen. Charles Sumner must be the most unsung hero in American history. A loud, loyal and consistent voice demanding an end to slavery, he could also be abrasive, arrogant, and unapologetically personal in his attacks on fellow Congressmen who supported the buying and selling of human beings, and this nearly cost him his life.
In 1856, Sumner gave a rousing speech in the Senate, attacking personally Sen. Andrew Butler of South Carolina. Butler's cousin, Preston Brooks, a South Carolina representative, appeared in the Senate chamber and beat Sumner with a cane so severely his skull was visible and he was unable to return to the chamber fully for nearly three years.
Sumner became a martyr, Brooks became a hero. He was sent canes to show support, and the little Florida town of Brooksville was named in honor.
But by the time of his death in 1874, the 13th amendment outlawing slavery had been passed.
Stephen Puleo's wonderful biography is the first full-length look at Sumner in nearly 50 years and it is excellent, full of "Why didn't I know this?" moments.
I hope it brings both Sumner and Puleo the notice they deserve.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. Unfortunately, Sumner is best known for being nearly beaten to death on the Senate floor. He should be widely (and oft-) celebrated for his unceasing work in ending slavery with a zeal the founding fathers and the vast majority of his contemporaries failed to muster (he did manage to nudge Mr. Lincoln in the right direction), his introduction and pursuit of the notion of "equality before the law" (unsuccessfully using arguments to integrate Boston schools that Thurgood Marshall would successfully use 105 years later), advancing suffrage and support for broad civil rights a full century before that became a popular cause, albeit still not achieved. Indeed, the current backsliding must have him twisting in his grave. (Not bad for a man who Puleo suggests struggled with Asperger's.) Then too, his rhetorical skills, commitment and dedication to public service has been virtually absent from the Senate for decades. Read it and weep.

[Daniel Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biography of Massachusetts senator Charles Sumner. During the Civil War era, Sumner, at great personal sacrifice, fought for abolition and equal rights for all. The book charts Sumner's influential time in office, his attack at the hands of a South Carolina congressman and his relationship with President Lincoln. The reader also learns much about Sumner's personal life.

Impressive work that revealed much about one of the giants of Massachusetts history. My second time reading Stephen Puleo's work and my admiration for his writing grows. It is amazing how prescient Sumner was concerning civil rights and the struggle to end slavery. I appreciated how Sumner would speak and write often as to how the end of slavery and the institution of equal rights were the true outcome that the founders intended with the Deceleration and the Constitution. Wonderful read.

[BookBrowse · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was something oddly familiar in Sumner that I recognized halfway through my reading of The Great Abolitionist. He reminded me of someone. Putting the book down, I reread Martin Luther King Jr.'s "The Negro Is Your Brother," which he wrote from Birmingham jail. There it was. The similarity. Particularly in one line: "I am in Birmingham because injustice is here."

Sumner was in the Senate because injustice was in the Southern and Northern states. King went on to say, "I cannot sit idly by."

Neither could Charles Sumner. His life story is a testimony to the good inside of men. His crusade against slavery was admirable, compassionate, and quite heroic. His character was exemplary.
-Valerie Morales

Read the full review at: https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/review...

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Heard Stephen Puleo talk about the book (thank you Boston.com bookclub) and knew I had to "read" it.

I grew up in the shadow of the Charles Sumner School in Roslindale, but knew nothing of Sumner. Sumner was an outspoken abolitionist, lawyer, politician, and statesman who represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate. Sumner then a US Senator was severely beaten on the Senate floor with a cane by Preston Brooks, a representative from South Carolina the Senate floor in retaliation for an abolitionist speech Sumner had given days before. Puleo tells the story of of just how much Sumner contributed to the fight for a more perfect union. Thank you Mr. Puleo. I look forward reading your other books.

[Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Sumner is mostly remembered today as a victim of Southern agression, foreshadowing the outbreak of the Civil War. As Stephen Puleo demonstrates in his biography, there is far more the great abolitionist achieved that Americans have forgotten about. He was not only a fierce opponent of slavery, but he was an advocate for a truly egalitarian society, free from racial discrimination. Contemporaries considered Sumner a radical, and he himself recognized that he was ahead of his time. The story of the Massachusetts firebrand is inspiring, and it has given me a greater appreciation for the efforts made by abolitionists to make America a more just and equitable society. Whether you are a student of history or a casual reader, "The Great Abolitionist" is a captivating read.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing and important biography of Charles Sumner. Summer was a life-long fighter for citizenship and full voting and civil rights for Black Americans. He was definitely ahead of his time and often was highly criticized by even other abolutionists. He maintained that the Constitution guaranteed free and full citizenship for all men (women were not included in his vision). He endured not only public censure many times but also a horrendous beating on the floor of the U.S. Senator from a Southern Senator; a beating from which he almost died. He was instrumental in convincing Abraham Lincoln to enact the Emancipation Proclomation. He was highly honored during the end of his life time but, is unfortunately not given his due today.

[Kelli Santistevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The groundbreaking biography of a forgotten civil rights hero.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me a review copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review! I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book or not because I think that American History is boring and I thought it was boring when I was learning about it in school but I enjoyed this book which surprised me. When I read the first 60 pages, I was bored with what was going on but when I got 100 pages in, it got better and I ended up feeling invested in the story. This book was very interesting. I learned so much.

[Anne Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded to 5

A biography of the very complicated Senator Charles Sumner, famous for his radical (at the time) abolitionist views and courage to stand up and fight for his convictions that led to (prior to 6 January 2021) the most violent assault committed in the Capitol building, when he was brutally beaten by a southern representative.

Sumner was indeed a radical, but he served great purpose—he did push the country and leaders to a more just world. His ideas on desegregation and voting and citizenship rights for black Americans was 100 years ahead of the federal government.

Easily one of the most important men of his age.

Note: the audiobook reader is pretty bland.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed the level of detail and context that this book gives about the period surrounding the Civil War and Sumner’s role in it. Puleo’s writing style is very engaging and enjoyable which made this a quick read for someone interested in the topic.

However, I was not a fan of how Puleo seemed to imply that Brooks had no choice but to physically attack Sumner due to his southern honor.

Puleo also constantly talked about how Sumner was a friendless man who had a difficult time socially, but at the same time, constantly talked about Sumner’s friendships with a variety of people.

I think this is a great resource but would encourage readers to seek other books on the topic as well.

[AshleyKantorski · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you think of the Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln you don’t think of Charles Sumner. But he had a large hand in how Lincoln came to feel the slaves. I had never heard of Charles Sumner until I read this book. It goes into detail of his life and career starting as lawyer to a politician.

I did not realize how strong he backed freeing the slaves and how influential he was in our country’s history. After reading this book I now want to research more into his life and try to find some of the letters he wrote while in office

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A towering moral force in the mid-19th century, Charles Sumner fearlessly stood against slavery while others sought compromise. His eloquent leadership in the US Senate guided a divided nation toward realizing its promise of a more perfect union. This inspiring and engaging biography celebrates his indelible legacy, which has echoed through generations in the fight for civil rights.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.