What do you think?
Rate this book
Nat Turner, Black Prophet: A Visionary History
A bold reinterpretation of the causes and legacy of Nat Turner's rebellion―and the new definitive account.
In August 1831, a group of enslaved people in Southampton County, Virginia, rose up to fight for their freedom. They attacked the plantations on which their enslavers lived and attempted to march on the county seat of Jerusalem, from which they planned to launch an uprising across the South. After the rebellion was suppressed, well over a hundred people, Black and white, lay dead or were hanged. As news of the revolt spread, it became apparent that it was the idea of a single Nat Turner. An enslaved preacher, he was as enigmatic as he was brilliant. He was also something more―a prophet, one who claimed to have received visions from the Spirit urging him to act.
Nat Turner, Black Prophet is the fullest recounting to date of Turner’s uprising, and the first that refuses to tame or overlook his divine visions. Instead, it takes those visions seriously, tracing their emergence from the world of nineteenth-century Methodism, with its revivals, camp meetings, interracial churches, and Black preachers. The rebellion and its aftermath would hasten the end of this world, as Southern states further restricted the personal freedoms of the enslaved, even as the ongoing threat of revolt shaped the country’s politics. With this work of narrative history, the late historian Anthony E. Kaye and his collaborator Gregory P. Downs have given us a new understanding of one of the nineteenth century's most decisive events.
In August 1831, a group of enslaved people in Southampton County, Virginia, rose up to fight for their freedom. They attacked the plantations on which their enslavers lived and attempted to march on the county seat of Jerusalem, from which they planned to launch an uprising across the South. After the rebellion was suppressed, well over a hundred people, Black and white, lay dead or were hanged. As news of the revolt spread, it became apparent that it was the idea of a single Nat Turner. An enslaved preacher, he was as enigmatic as he was brilliant. He was also something more―a prophet, one who claimed to have received visions from the Spirit urging him to act.
Nat Turner, Black Prophet is the fullest recounting to date of Turner’s uprising, and the first that refuses to tame or overlook his divine visions. Instead, it takes those visions seriously, tracing their emergence from the world of nineteenth-century Methodism, with its revivals, camp meetings, interracial churches, and Black preachers. The rebellion and its aftermath would hasten the end of this world, as Southern states further restricted the personal freedoms of the enslaved, even as the ongoing threat of revolt shaped the country’s politics. With this work of narrative history, the late historian Anthony E. Kaye and his collaborator Gregory P. Downs have given us a new understanding of one of the nineteenth century's most decisive events.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published August 13, 2024
36 people are currently reading
3028 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 24, 2024
Being an English person there's a lot of American history that I simply do not know. I know the "big" dates and have an understanding of what led to various aspects of US history and even some of the major players but until I saw (not read) a copy of Nat Turner's Confessions I had not heard of this man at all. Mea culpa.
In Nat Turner: Black Prophet Gregory Downs has completed and augmented/interpreted the work of the late Anthony Kaye.
The book describes Nat's upbringing and that of his wider family, his very early beginnings as, perhaps, a child genius and then prophet following which he leads a revolt within his home town amongst other enslaved people that he hoped would bring about a general revolution.
Sadly this did not happen and the book describes exactly what occurred during the revolt and it's equally horrific aftermath.
It is not an easy read and the hypocrisy of the church going whites is often extremely hard to deal with. However it is clear that Nat Turner should be considered as one of the most influential people of the time along with Frederick Douglas, Harriet Tubman and John Brown.
I listened to the audio which was beautifully narrated by Leon Nixon who had a measured delivery and did not over dramatise even the most disturbing aspects of the story. A thoroughly enjoyable listen.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Brilliance Audio for the audio advance review copy.
In Nat Turner: Black Prophet Gregory Downs has completed and augmented/interpreted the work of the late Anthony Kaye.
The book describes Nat's upbringing and that of his wider family, his very early beginnings as, perhaps, a child genius and then prophet following which he leads a revolt within his home town amongst other enslaved people that he hoped would bring about a general revolution.
Sadly this did not happen and the book describes exactly what occurred during the revolt and it's equally horrific aftermath.
It is not an easy read and the hypocrisy of the church going whites is often extremely hard to deal with. However it is clear that Nat Turner should be considered as one of the most influential people of the time along with Frederick Douglas, Harriet Tubman and John Brown.
I listened to the audio which was beautifully narrated by Leon Nixon who had a measured delivery and did not over dramatise even the most disturbing aspects of the story. A thoroughly enjoyable listen.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Brilliance Audio for the audio advance review copy.
January 11, 2026
This has very interesting historical aspects but there are serious problems with the portrayal of Nat in this narrative.
This text offers a rich plethora of historical information on Protestant churches in early colonial America, through the Revolution and into the early part of the 19th Century in which Nat's Rebellion occurs. This includes quite a lot of biblical information, bordering on too much, as well as information about the formation of the American Methodist Church. The text also included interesting and relevant information about other Slave Uprisings in the Americas and the Caribbean, such as Gabriel Prosser and the Haitian Revolution.
Not as successfully handled are the authors' own assumptions regarding how enslaved folks felt about and processed the christian god forced on them through violence and oppression. Glaringly absent from the analysis in this narrative is the very real and documented practice of what are today called 'African Traditional Religions'(ATR) amongst the enslaved, even enslaved christians. Black American religious traditions & superstitions are entirely left out of this narrative and that includes meaningful discussion of Hoodoo, Conjure, Voodoo, etc. The idea that these cultural ideas and mythology in no way impacted Nat or that this was not as much a part of his everyday life as christianity is not a reasonable deduction based on the existing historical records.
For example Frederick Douglas, who was not known to be a believer in or practitioner of ATR, credited High John the Conqueror Root for fighting back against his overseer/enslaver. It's not unreasonable to believe that if Nat was led by religion, it was likely more than Christianity. Even if the author did not believe he was influenced by ATR at all, he would still need to discuss why he dismissed it as an influence. I'm not sure the author even understands what ATR is what impact it had on Black folks during the Antebellum period or today; without this crucial understanding the author fails to make an argument that holds credible historical validity.
The entire theory set forth in this text rests on the belief that the white interviewer, Gray, who recorded Nat's confessions in jail did so honestly. That's highly unlikely, as in there is to date no recorded incident of this ever happening, even when the white interviewer/biographer was friendly towards the Black person they interviewed. Also it assumes that Nat was candidly honest with Gray which is a conclusion that makes zero sense given that Nat was being held in violent captivity his entire life. These are not conclusions that any adult with a reasonable understanding of history at this time period would make. They are farcical almost.
For an example I offer the debacle regarding Sojourner Truth's famous, 'Ain't I a Woman?' speech. The speech supposedly given by Ms. Truth has been lost to history. The white fellow abolitionist who was sensitive to her cause, instead of recording her actual speech, instead rewrote it in southern slang. White feminist and abolitionist, Frances Dana Barker Gage, is who robbed history of the actual words of this remarkable woman. Ms. Truth was a native German speaker who spoke English with a Black German accent, not a Black Southern accent. Ms. Gage felt her fake version of Ms. Truth's life held more value than Ms. Truth's own testimony. Frederick Douglas began his own paper, The North Star, in part because of inaccuracies presented as truths by white abolitionists. This theory is a major reach and the text never even addresses the reality Nat existed during in a frank and historically valid manner.
The narrative attempts to tie Nat to biblical warriors more than other Black leaders of Uprisings during chattel slavery. Unfortunately over the course of the text this framing conjures up 'magical negro' stereotyping which is cringe at best, borrowing heavily from racist stereotyping at worst.
The narratives tone toward Nat's Uprising is condescending. There was a reference to Nat's 'bias' towards white people or white enslavers? It's unclear. This is a white supremacist view of Enslaved folks and deeply offensive. Clearly, the biased party are the enslavers, who enslaved Black people. When someone is oppressed, hating your oppressor is both natural and normal. As Malcolm X said, it's not violence, it's common sense. In a very real sense its self defense. Bias would be if West Africans showed up in Europe to steal people and enslave them because they were European. Just wildly offensive to refer to an actual enslaved person as biased against their enslavers. I don't understand how that wasn't removed in editing, it's horribly white supremacist and unbelievably offensive.
The modern understanding of and use of the word bias and why being biased is wrong is predicated on the idea that the biased person has no reason to hold bias, they are unharmed by the party they are biased against. For a victim to harm their enslaver isn't bias or violence, it's both common sense and self defense. The author is by default arguing that slave owners are more entitled to life than the Black people they enslaved. This racist thinking further implies that slavery is okay for Black people and for Black folks to fight against it and by default the white people employing that violence, using the same violent tools used against them is somehow immoral or biased on the part of the Black folks rebelling. This is just deeply offensive, fully white supremacist, and unacceptable in a modern text about slavery.
The text directly states that Nat wasn't lead by 'modern' 'liberal' values like freedom and equality. This is just factually untrue. Even during the Antebellum period, enslaved folks repeatedly risked everything for freedom. Equality was a founding principle of both the French & Haitian revolutions. This is demonstrably not factual and reeks of a white historian will study this rationally and let the emotionally compromised Black folks know how they should feel about and view a member of their own community. This is just a horribly dated and white supremacist view of history.
In the final chapter the text again seems to imply that Nat wasn't entitled to meet violence with violence in order to gain freedom. The text states that the slave owners that died might have changed their mind. This pretends as if slavery is a victimless, nonviolent crime. Nothing could be further from the truth. Those that died, died for the crimes they had already committed. Slavery itself was a crime characterized by unspeakable violence to an extent that can still be read on the bones of the enslaved today. The text doesn't really address the horror that made up everyday slavery: the beatings, the starvation, the lack of basic necessities like clothing and shelter, the family separation, the sexual violence participated in by every stratus of white society from the poor to the wealthy white men, women, children and everyone in between raped Black enslaved men, women, children and everyone in between. Black enslaved infants were used as bait for gators. Black enslaved peoples could have their anuses packed with gun powder because white men were bored. White men raped in packs in the slave quarters and they raped men particularly as part of the practice known as 'slave breaking'. Children were hung in closets for hours by their thumbs because they were the product of rape and it upset their white enslavers wives. The text overly focuses on the violence of the Uprising and refuses to equally focus on the violence that was just the everyday function of chattel slavery in the Americas. How were Black folks supposed to be respond to that level of violence peacefully in a way that honored that their torturers might at some point have a change of heart? This is just an offensive and white supremacist view that values white life during what was a genocide of Black lives. It's a deeply cruel and tone deaf viewpoint.
This is disrespectful in the extreme because Black folks employed every avenue open to them to get away from slavery. They used every tool in their arsenal from lawsuits in court to outright running away. White people as a group employed vast amounts of violence including unspeakable physical and mental torture up to and including death to oppress Black folks. They deserved to be met with the force they employed and every white person that died in every single slavery uprising deserved it and more. The genocided don't owe their genociders anything. To suggest otherwise is deeply offensive and a core function of white supremacy.
The violence of white enslavers started at birth. Most white enslavers babies were nursed by Black enslaved women. Usually those women's own infants died of starvation while their milk was often exclusively reserved for the white enslaver infant. There were no innocent white folks who were enslavers, independent of their age. Also this is for the surviving descendants of the victims of this violence to decide, not the descendants of the enslavers of those victims to characterize and own.
This was mostly disappointing and offensive. I'd say roughly 25% of the history contained in this text adds meaningfully to the history of Black folks enslaved in what is now the USA. Less than 5% of that useful information pertained to Nat Turner. This texts real value lies in the study of the rise of Protestant religions in North America. It's weakness is it's entire narrative on Nat Turner.
The narrator of this audiobook is Leon Nixon. Leon does a wonderful job keeping the text moving. This is somewhat weighty and heavy subject. The author's tone was lively and respectful.
Thank you to Anthony E. Kaye, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
This text offers a rich plethora of historical information on Protestant churches in early colonial America, through the Revolution and into the early part of the 19th Century in which Nat's Rebellion occurs. This includes quite a lot of biblical information, bordering on too much, as well as information about the formation of the American Methodist Church. The text also included interesting and relevant information about other Slave Uprisings in the Americas and the Caribbean, such as Gabriel Prosser and the Haitian Revolution.
Not as successfully handled are the authors' own assumptions regarding how enslaved folks felt about and processed the christian god forced on them through violence and oppression. Glaringly absent from the analysis in this narrative is the very real and documented practice of what are today called 'African Traditional Religions'(ATR) amongst the enslaved, even enslaved christians. Black American religious traditions & superstitions are entirely left out of this narrative and that includes meaningful discussion of Hoodoo, Conjure, Voodoo, etc. The idea that these cultural ideas and mythology in no way impacted Nat or that this was not as much a part of his everyday life as christianity is not a reasonable deduction based on the existing historical records.
For example Frederick Douglas, who was not known to be a believer in or practitioner of ATR, credited High John the Conqueror Root for fighting back against his overseer/enslaver. It's not unreasonable to believe that if Nat was led by religion, it was likely more than Christianity. Even if the author did not believe he was influenced by ATR at all, he would still need to discuss why he dismissed it as an influence. I'm not sure the author even understands what ATR is what impact it had on Black folks during the Antebellum period or today; without this crucial understanding the author fails to make an argument that holds credible historical validity.
The entire theory set forth in this text rests on the belief that the white interviewer, Gray, who recorded Nat's confessions in jail did so honestly. That's highly unlikely, as in there is to date no recorded incident of this ever happening, even when the white interviewer/biographer was friendly towards the Black person they interviewed. Also it assumes that Nat was candidly honest with Gray which is a conclusion that makes zero sense given that Nat was being held in violent captivity his entire life. These are not conclusions that any adult with a reasonable understanding of history at this time period would make. They are farcical almost.
For an example I offer the debacle regarding Sojourner Truth's famous, 'Ain't I a Woman?' speech. The speech supposedly given by Ms. Truth has been lost to history. The white fellow abolitionist who was sensitive to her cause, instead of recording her actual speech, instead rewrote it in southern slang. White feminist and abolitionist, Frances Dana Barker Gage, is who robbed history of the actual words of this remarkable woman. Ms. Truth was a native German speaker who spoke English with a Black German accent, not a Black Southern accent. Ms. Gage felt her fake version of Ms. Truth's life held more value than Ms. Truth's own testimony. Frederick Douglas began his own paper, The North Star, in part because of inaccuracies presented as truths by white abolitionists. This theory is a major reach and the text never even addresses the reality Nat existed during in a frank and historically valid manner.
The narrative attempts to tie Nat to biblical warriors more than other Black leaders of Uprisings during chattel slavery. Unfortunately over the course of the text this framing conjures up 'magical negro' stereotyping which is cringe at best, borrowing heavily from racist stereotyping at worst.
The narratives tone toward Nat's Uprising is condescending. There was a reference to Nat's 'bias' towards white people or white enslavers? It's unclear. This is a white supremacist view of Enslaved folks and deeply offensive. Clearly, the biased party are the enslavers, who enslaved Black people. When someone is oppressed, hating your oppressor is both natural and normal. As Malcolm X said, it's not violence, it's common sense. In a very real sense its self defense. Bias would be if West Africans showed up in Europe to steal people and enslave them because they were European. Just wildly offensive to refer to an actual enslaved person as biased against their enslavers. I don't understand how that wasn't removed in editing, it's horribly white supremacist and unbelievably offensive.
The modern understanding of and use of the word bias and why being biased is wrong is predicated on the idea that the biased person has no reason to hold bias, they are unharmed by the party they are biased against. For a victim to harm their enslaver isn't bias or violence, it's both common sense and self defense. The author is by default arguing that slave owners are more entitled to life than the Black people they enslaved. This racist thinking further implies that slavery is okay for Black people and for Black folks to fight against it and by default the white people employing that violence, using the same violent tools used against them is somehow immoral or biased on the part of the Black folks rebelling. This is just deeply offensive, fully white supremacist, and unacceptable in a modern text about slavery.
The text directly states that Nat wasn't lead by 'modern' 'liberal' values like freedom and equality. This is just factually untrue. Even during the Antebellum period, enslaved folks repeatedly risked everything for freedom. Equality was a founding principle of both the French & Haitian revolutions. This is demonstrably not factual and reeks of a white historian will study this rationally and let the emotionally compromised Black folks know how they should feel about and view a member of their own community. This is just a horribly dated and white supremacist view of history.
In the final chapter the text again seems to imply that Nat wasn't entitled to meet violence with violence in order to gain freedom. The text states that the slave owners that died might have changed their mind. This pretends as if slavery is a victimless, nonviolent crime. Nothing could be further from the truth. Those that died, died for the crimes they had already committed. Slavery itself was a crime characterized by unspeakable violence to an extent that can still be read on the bones of the enslaved today. The text doesn't really address the horror that made up everyday slavery: the beatings, the starvation, the lack of basic necessities like clothing and shelter, the family separation, the sexual violence participated in by every stratus of white society from the poor to the wealthy white men, women, children and everyone in between raped Black enslaved men, women, children and everyone in between. Black enslaved infants were used as bait for gators. Black enslaved peoples could have their anuses packed with gun powder because white men were bored. White men raped in packs in the slave quarters and they raped men particularly as part of the practice known as 'slave breaking'. Children were hung in closets for hours by their thumbs because they were the product of rape and it upset their white enslavers wives. The text overly focuses on the violence of the Uprising and refuses to equally focus on the violence that was just the everyday function of chattel slavery in the Americas. How were Black folks supposed to be respond to that level of violence peacefully in a way that honored that their torturers might at some point have a change of heart? This is just an offensive and white supremacist view that values white life during what was a genocide of Black lives. It's a deeply cruel and tone deaf viewpoint.
This is disrespectful in the extreme because Black folks employed every avenue open to them to get away from slavery. They used every tool in their arsenal from lawsuits in court to outright running away. White people as a group employed vast amounts of violence including unspeakable physical and mental torture up to and including death to oppress Black folks. They deserved to be met with the force they employed and every white person that died in every single slavery uprising deserved it and more. The genocided don't owe their genociders anything. To suggest otherwise is deeply offensive and a core function of white supremacy.
The violence of white enslavers started at birth. Most white enslavers babies were nursed by Black enslaved women. Usually those women's own infants died of starvation while their milk was often exclusively reserved for the white enslaver infant. There were no innocent white folks who were enslavers, independent of their age. Also this is for the surviving descendants of the victims of this violence to decide, not the descendants of the enslavers of those victims to characterize and own.
This was mostly disappointing and offensive. I'd say roughly 25% of the history contained in this text adds meaningfully to the history of Black folks enslaved in what is now the USA. Less than 5% of that useful information pertained to Nat Turner. This texts real value lies in the study of the rise of Protestant religions in North America. It's weakness is it's entire narrative on Nat Turner.
The narrator of this audiobook is Leon Nixon. Leon does a wonderful job keeping the text moving. This is somewhat weighty and heavy subject. The author's tone was lively and respectful.
Thank you to Anthony E. Kaye, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
April 13, 2024
This book is a look into the driving force behind the slave rebellion famously led by Nat Turner. The obvious motive would be to garner freedom and exact revenge for horrific abuses, however, Tony Kaye (and Gregory Downs) delve even deeper into the personal psyche of the man who put into motion what would become one of the turning points in American history.
Kaye examines the religious milieu of the 1830’s and how attitudes towards slavery intersected with those of righteous warfare. Into to this setting came a man who believed himself to be a prophet in the mold of a Moses leading his people from exile. I found this book to be a fascinating look into a tipping point in the antebellum South.
Having also read “Confessions” a few years ago, this book helped shine a new light and insight and imparted truer details to the story than the retelling of Thomas Gray’s interview with Nat in the days after his capture. What stands out in the history of Nat Turner is just how much of his story is unknown. Kaye’s diligent work fills as many of those gaps as possible and attempts to present us with what Nat may have been thinking and feeling at given moments along the way. As a contrast, “Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid that Sparked the Civil War” is a favorite of mine and it is not lost on me that we learn so much about Brown’s life before, after, and during the events at Harper’s Ferry because those details were available. Conversely there are so many gaps and unknowns in the life of Nat Turner, and we realize that it’s not for lack of research, as this book in its painstaking years of study can attest. But instead it’s a sad and ugly truth that we know little, because Nat Turner lived in a society that did not value the humanity and being of the black person.
I found this to be an insightful read, and a fitting bookend to the legacy of the author. The postscript included by Downs at the end of the book was also a heartfelt tribute to Kaye. A special thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for an advanced copy.
Kaye examines the religious milieu of the 1830’s and how attitudes towards slavery intersected with those of righteous warfare. Into to this setting came a man who believed himself to be a prophet in the mold of a Moses leading his people from exile. I found this book to be a fascinating look into a tipping point in the antebellum South.
Having also read “Confessions” a few years ago, this book helped shine a new light and insight and imparted truer details to the story than the retelling of Thomas Gray’s interview with Nat in the days after his capture. What stands out in the history of Nat Turner is just how much of his story is unknown. Kaye’s diligent work fills as many of those gaps as possible and attempts to present us with what Nat may have been thinking and feeling at given moments along the way. As a contrast, “Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid that Sparked the Civil War” is a favorite of mine and it is not lost on me that we learn so much about Brown’s life before, after, and during the events at Harper’s Ferry because those details were available. Conversely there are so many gaps and unknowns in the life of Nat Turner, and we realize that it’s not for lack of research, as this book in its painstaking years of study can attest. But instead it’s a sad and ugly truth that we know little, because Nat Turner lived in a society that did not value the humanity and being of the black person.
I found this to be an insightful read, and a fitting bookend to the legacy of the author. The postscript included by Downs at the end of the book was also a heartfelt tribute to Kaye. A special thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for an advanced copy.
August 23, 2024
I went into this book knowing about Nat Turner and his rebellion, but as I soon found out, I didn't actually
*KNOW*
about this man, his rebellion, and all the events leading up to it.
This book does a deep-dive into that time frame [the 1830's ] and all that it encompassed, especially from the unique perspective of religion [I grew up in church - Baptist - and I learned quote a bit from this book that I had never heard before in church {go figure} and all the Biblical knowledge that is within its pages ], how religion affected [and often encouraged ] slavery, and how religious fervor factored into the rebellion itself. The dive into the Methodist church and its fall into the evils of slavery was so disheartening to read and helped explain why Nat finally turned his back on that and chose rebellion [from what his prophecies were telling him ]. Reading this book was a completely eye-opening experience.
Expertly written and meticulously researched [both by the late Anthony Kaye and then by the man Mr, Kaye left his work to, Gregory P. Downs ], this is a must read for anyone who loves history, has heard this story and thought they *knew* it all, is interested in the time leading up to the Civil War, and all those who are continually doing the work to learn the truth and aren't afraid to do a deep-dive read to seek more of the truth.
I really love Leon Nixon as a narrator and was thrilled to see that he was narrating this book, and boy does he do an amazing job. He reads this often difficult book with ease and the right inflections and tone and I was sucked immediately into the story as soon as I turned this audiobook on. I highly recommend this audiobook - you will not be sorry.
Thank you to NetGalley, the late Anthony E. Kaye and his family, Gregory P. Downs, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, and Brilliance Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.
This book does a deep-dive into that time frame [the 1830's ] and all that it encompassed, especially from the unique perspective of religion [I grew up in church - Baptist - and I learned quote a bit from this book that I had never heard before in church {go figure} and all the Biblical knowledge that is within its pages ], how religion affected [and often encouraged ] slavery, and how religious fervor factored into the rebellion itself. The dive into the Methodist church and its fall into the evils of slavery was so disheartening to read and helped explain why Nat finally turned his back on that and chose rebellion [from what his prophecies were telling him ]. Reading this book was a completely eye-opening experience.
Expertly written and meticulously researched [both by the late Anthony Kaye and then by the man Mr, Kaye left his work to, Gregory P. Downs ], this is a must read for anyone who loves history, has heard this story and thought they *knew* it all, is interested in the time leading up to the Civil War, and all those who are continually doing the work to learn the truth and aren't afraid to do a deep-dive read to seek more of the truth.
I really love Leon Nixon as a narrator and was thrilled to see that he was narrating this book, and boy does he do an amazing job. He reads this often difficult book with ease and the right inflections and tone and I was sucked immediately into the story as soon as I turned this audiobook on. I highly recommend this audiobook - you will not be sorry.
Thank you to NetGalley, the late Anthony E. Kaye and his family, Gregory P. Downs, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, and Brilliance Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2024
This is an excellent offering that examines Nat Turner - the world in which lived and key religious ideologies that shaped his beliefs.. There is extraordinary coverage on the rebellion itself and Turner’s justification of his actions. In other words, the novel delves into his mindset: why he was compelled to act and what fueled these motivations. I found this to be easily readable and brilliantly frames the social and legal restrictions in a digestible
Thanks to the publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.
Thanks to the publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.
February 17, 2024
Kaye's book does a great job at unpacking the Nat Turner rebellion, and does so from the unique perspective of religion. He provides some excellent background and context to the event, looking at the waves of religious change taking place in the country, as well as the impact of religion on enslaved people. Furthermore, he includes significant geographical context about the areas of rebellion and the social developments of the time. All of this makes for a much richer and deeper entry point into Turner's story. Turner, Kaye argues, can best be understood through the lens of religious fervor and racial discord that had been sweeping through the nation. In Ch. 3, he does a great job casting Turner in terms of being seen as a prophet, linking him to Methodism and Exodus imagery.
A key point for Turner was his insistence on being visited by a "Spirit" that called, maybe even commanded him to action. Beginning with the fifth chapter, Kaye then unpacks the narrative of the rebellion in great storytelling and captivating prose.
It would seem this book was influenced, consciously or unconsciously, but the focus of the impact of religious fundamentalism these days. It calls into question issues about the justification of violence, and the rationalization of such acts by theological means. This then might make readers wonder how close Nat Turner was to a cult leader, and what of the followers who bought into his messaging?
Kaye's book fills a hole in the historiography of Nat Turner in a profound and readable way. I feel like his story has finally been done justice.
A key point for Turner was his insistence on being visited by a "Spirit" that called, maybe even commanded him to action. Beginning with the fifth chapter, Kaye then unpacks the narrative of the rebellion in great storytelling and captivating prose.
It would seem this book was influenced, consciously or unconsciously, but the focus of the impact of religious fundamentalism these days. It calls into question issues about the justification of violence, and the rationalization of such acts by theological means. This then might make readers wonder how close Nat Turner was to a cult leader, and what of the followers who bought into his messaging?
Kaye's book fills a hole in the historiography of Nat Turner in a profound and readable way. I feel like his story has finally been done justice.
September 7, 2024
This book is possibly one of the most interesting perspectives into Nat's upbringing and his thinking leading up to his famous rebellion. It is clear that Tony Kaye was passionate about his research into both Nat's upbringing and into the life of enslaved Methodists within early 19th century Southampton County Virginia. It was very interesting to read about how Nat's Methodist upbringing influenced the decisions he made in his life. After reading this book I feel that I have a greater understanding for both Nat's reasonings and other enslaved people's reasonings for the rebellions they took part in. Nat's legacy and rebellion lives on in today's discussions for equality.
February 6, 2024
This is a really fascinating read. Until I read this book, I didn't realize how religiously motivated Turner was. The authors do their utmost to illuminate his entire worldview and the entire project makes him much more human.
This book was researched by Kaye before his death and he left extensive written notes and drafts. Downs then worked with that material, extensively re-writing most of it. His goal was to present Kaye's thoughts as best he could. The end result works well, IMO.
I received a digital copy of this book via Net Galley.
This book was researched by Kaye before his death and he left extensive written notes and drafts. Downs then worked with that material, extensively re-writing most of it. His goal was to present Kaye's thoughts as best he could. The end result works well, IMO.
I received a digital copy of this book via Net Galley.
September 12, 2024
2.5 stars
Thank you to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I wrote an essay in high school about Nat Turner, and I was interested to get this audiobook and learn more about him from my previous research.
I understand that Nat Turner’s life centered heavily around his religious beliefs and practices, but so much of this book was centered more around the Protestant history in America rather than specifically on Nat Turner himself.
I had a really hard time finishing this book due to feeling disappointed around the information that was covered in a large majority of the book.
CW: war, violence, death, slavery, racism
Thank you to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I wrote an essay in high school about Nat Turner, and I was interested to get this audiobook and learn more about him from my previous research.
I understand that Nat Turner’s life centered heavily around his religious beliefs and practices, but so much of this book was centered more around the Protestant history in America rather than specifically on Nat Turner himself.
I had a really hard time finishing this book due to feeling disappointed around the information that was covered in a large majority of the book.
CW: war, violence, death, slavery, racism
August 27, 2024
I had a really hard time getting through this book. It wasn't a bad book, and it had some great information.
But the way it was written and the way the narrator narrated it?? Not great.
It read like a (somewhat boring) history book, and the narrator didn't do anything to make it more exciting or less boring. I also found it a bit... suspect? in places. It seemed like the author put too much of himself into the work. His opinions, his thoughts, his bias, etc.
It didn't always read like a factual account of history.
It's worth reading just to be exposed to the information (because there WAS some info in this book that I'd never heard before). But it's not presented in a very interesting and engaging way.
But the way it was written and the way the narrator narrated it?? Not great.
It read like a (somewhat boring) history book, and the narrator didn't do anything to make it more exciting or less boring. I also found it a bit... suspect? in places. It seemed like the author put too much of himself into the work. His opinions, his thoughts, his bias, etc.
It didn't always read like a factual account of history.
It's worth reading just to be exposed to the information (because there WAS some info in this book that I'd never heard before). But it's not presented in a very interesting and engaging way.
September 12, 2024
TDTC - Thiên Đường Trò Chơi là một nền tảng giải trí ra mắt năm 2021, được phát triển bởi tập đoàn ONGAME TECHNOLOGY CORP. Địa chỉ: 122 Đ. Nguyễn Văn Trỗi, Phường 8, Phú Nhuận, Hồ Chí Minh, Việt Nam, 70000. Phone: 0981219920. Email: info@tdtc.place. Website: https://tdtc.place/ #tdtc #thien_duong_tro_choi, #td_tc, #tdtcplace
https://www.facebook.com/tdtcplace
https://twitter.com/tdtcplace
https://www.youtube.com/@tdtcplace
https://www.pinterest.com/tdtcplace/
https://vimeo.com/tdtcplace
https://www.blogger.com/profile/03100...
https://gravatar.com/tdtcplace
https://talk.plesk.com/members/tdtcpl...
https://www.tumblr.com/tdtcplace
https://tdtcplace.wixsite.com/tdtcpla...
https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/td...
https://profile.hatena.ne.jp/tdtcplac...
https://archive.org/details/@tdtcplace/
https://issuu.com/tdtcplace
https://www.twitch.tv/tdtcplace/about
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdtcplace/
https://tdtcplace.bandcamp.com/album/...
https://tdtcplace.webflow.io/
https://disqus.com/by/tdtcplace/about/
https://tdtcplace.readthedocs.io/
https://www.facebook.com/tdtcplace
https://twitter.com/tdtcplace
https://www.youtube.com/@tdtcplace
https://www.pinterest.com/tdtcplace/
https://vimeo.com/tdtcplace
https://www.blogger.com/profile/03100...
https://gravatar.com/tdtcplace
https://talk.plesk.com/members/tdtcpl...
https://www.tumblr.com/tdtcplace
https://tdtcplace.wixsite.com/tdtcpla...
https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/td...
https://profile.hatena.ne.jp/tdtcplac...
https://archive.org/details/@tdtcplace/
https://issuu.com/tdtcplace
https://www.twitch.tv/tdtcplace/about
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdtcplace/
https://tdtcplace.bandcamp.com/album/...
https://tdtcplace.webflow.io/
https://disqus.com/by/tdtcplace/about/
https://tdtcplace.readthedocs.io/
February 15, 2025
discusses religion so deftly and compellingly... what an excellent read
June 9, 2024
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux for an advance copy of this history about a major event in American history, that is still misunderstood, and one that still reverberates to this day, for different reasons.
History is written not only by the victors, but by those who don't want to deal with the truth. Some have good reasons, or at least tell themselves they do. Discussing this will only hold up the healing. Too many people will have a hard time getting past this. Let us just move on. Let the dead deal with the dead. Watching media today, we see this all the time. Most of the things we deal with as Americans, as citizens of this blue orb come from the fact that honest discussion is something most of us fear. No one wants to call a liar a liar, or wrong. Facts have lost meaning, because facts have been underrepresented. The story of Nat Turner is one of these stories, a story about a group who rose in mass to fight their oppressors, leading to the death of many, including the leaders. Some use Nat Turner as a rallying cry. Some as a tragedy, decrying the innocent women and children killed by his act of rebellion. A rebellion of course brought on by the act of enslavement. And maybe something more. Nat Turner, Black Prophet: A Visionary History is the last book by historian Anthony E. Kaye with Gregory P. Downs completeing most of the writing. The book tells of the rebellion by Nat Turner from a new view, one that gives a different take, complete with added research on the man that was Nat Turner.
The book starts with an introduction that explains how the book came about, the trying conditions that Kaye was dealing with health wise, and how most of the book came to be written or rewritten by Downs. From there readers are introduced to a part of the South we don't hear much of the rise of religious groups. Methodism was a fast growing religion, that included black preachers, interracial gatherings, and a rise in the idea of prophecy. The book discusses how during the American Revolution, slaves sided with the British. A prominent preacher spoke of going to the Promised Land, and what could be for those who fought with the English. Of course more promises were made than were actually kept. However the idea that religion, not just the idea but that people could be prophets told hold. And this would have much influence on the thinking of Nat Turner, a preacher who also held ideas about rebellion.
There was a lot more to the book than I expected. I was thinking this would be a tale of rebellion, of rising up, but there was far more to this than I expected, and a far different punishment and way of thinking among survivors and those who wanted to be sure this could never happen again. The religious writing is very well done, and really sets the atmosphere for what is coming. I should be surprised that there is still much that is not known about Nat Turner, someone so infamous one would think would have a better backstory. Honestly thought, being a black man in the South, how could there be. The writing is very good, not a lecture but more a discussion, one that ranges over quite a lot of subject matter. One can see the work on the page, and how much in the way of new information has been discovered. Even the footnotes are educational, sending at least myself on alot of different Internet trips.
A powerful book and one that proves to be a great final work for a gifted writer, along with the aid of his co-writer. There is much to think about, and much to contemplate And a lot of truth, truth that might start makeing a difference.
History is written not only by the victors, but by those who don't want to deal with the truth. Some have good reasons, or at least tell themselves they do. Discussing this will only hold up the healing. Too many people will have a hard time getting past this. Let us just move on. Let the dead deal with the dead. Watching media today, we see this all the time. Most of the things we deal with as Americans, as citizens of this blue orb come from the fact that honest discussion is something most of us fear. No one wants to call a liar a liar, or wrong. Facts have lost meaning, because facts have been underrepresented. The story of Nat Turner is one of these stories, a story about a group who rose in mass to fight their oppressors, leading to the death of many, including the leaders. Some use Nat Turner as a rallying cry. Some as a tragedy, decrying the innocent women and children killed by his act of rebellion. A rebellion of course brought on by the act of enslavement. And maybe something more. Nat Turner, Black Prophet: A Visionary History is the last book by historian Anthony E. Kaye with Gregory P. Downs completeing most of the writing. The book tells of the rebellion by Nat Turner from a new view, one that gives a different take, complete with added research on the man that was Nat Turner.
The book starts with an introduction that explains how the book came about, the trying conditions that Kaye was dealing with health wise, and how most of the book came to be written or rewritten by Downs. From there readers are introduced to a part of the South we don't hear much of the rise of religious groups. Methodism was a fast growing religion, that included black preachers, interracial gatherings, and a rise in the idea of prophecy. The book discusses how during the American Revolution, slaves sided with the British. A prominent preacher spoke of going to the Promised Land, and what could be for those who fought with the English. Of course more promises were made than were actually kept. However the idea that religion, not just the idea but that people could be prophets told hold. And this would have much influence on the thinking of Nat Turner, a preacher who also held ideas about rebellion.
There was a lot more to the book than I expected. I was thinking this would be a tale of rebellion, of rising up, but there was far more to this than I expected, and a far different punishment and way of thinking among survivors and those who wanted to be sure this could never happen again. The religious writing is very well done, and really sets the atmosphere for what is coming. I should be surprised that there is still much that is not known about Nat Turner, someone so infamous one would think would have a better backstory. Honestly thought, being a black man in the South, how could there be. The writing is very good, not a lecture but more a discussion, one that ranges over quite a lot of subject matter. One can see the work on the page, and how much in the way of new information has been discovered. Even the footnotes are educational, sending at least myself on alot of different Internet trips.
A powerful book and one that proves to be a great final work for a gifted writer, along with the aid of his co-writer. There is much to think about, and much to contemplate And a lot of truth, truth that might start makeing a difference.
January 5, 2025
Nat Turner book
This is probably 4.5 stars overall. Would Kaye have actually brought Turner’s first visions further forward had he written this? Maybe. But, overall? Reasonably well written.
My background? I knew who Turner was. I knew the bare bones of his rebellion. I did not know that he was an actual Methodist preacher, one who claimed to have received visions as well as a spiritual call, with the last vision calling for him to lead the rebellion. I did not know he was literate.
The book starts with some good and necessary backgrounding.
First is the separation between British and American Methodism over slavery. By early 1800s, most of Southern American Methodism was still preaching virtue of individual manumissions while rejecting calls for any sort of even gradual abolition across society. By the time of Nat’s uprising, even the call for individual manumission had been tamped down.
Contra a 2-star black reviewer and a 3-star white one, I found this HIGHLY relevant to the narrative, putting Nat in a “sitz in leben.”
Second and in parallel is Virginia law of early 1800s making it harder to manumit and theoretically requiring freedmen to move out of area. I read a book about freed blacks from Virginia who moved to Ohio in either 1830s or 1840s.
Nat? Big vision about 1825 after a month-long runaway. Tells him to go back to slavery while also seemingly offering the first instruction to fight it.
Later 1820s visions included blood on leaves, for which the author offers multiple naturalistic explanations, and the reported seeing of Egyptian hieroglyphics, shades of Joseph Smith.
Kaye calls Turner’s actual fight “herem” war, a la that allegedly fought by Israel in Joshua and detailed elsewhere in the Former Prophets, as in the holocaust Yahweh orders Saul to commit against the Amalekites. He does indicate this is a controversial take among Turner scholars. It’s the one take on Turner’s religious background I’d question.
One final main note of his is how many “poor whites” in the militia that responded wanted to kill any blacks they saw. This appears to be in part to cow them, in part to push some white owners to sell their land and move, and to kill any free blacks they could to free up their lands for possession as well. White slaveowners who may have led the militia, and who definitely had political and legal leadership, fought this, in part to establish the rule of law against insurrection fears, but also to fight the irreplaceable loss of their own slaves, whether death in fighting or execution on conviction. A side note to that is owners requesting commutation of death penalties to sale and deportation.
The legacies, beyond the concluding chapter? Manumission in Virginia in particular and the Upper South in general became even harder. Teaching slaves to read became tougher. Separate denominations within both Methodism and the Baptist world arose for blacks and whites, as well as northern-southern splits.
One other note to the black 2-star reviewer. Kaye and Downs indicate clearly the name of the man who led the 1800 revolt is simply “Gabriel,” and that we don’t have enough information to attach a surname, “Prosser” or whatever, to him. Next time you’re feeling offensive, maybe read more carefully. (And, yes, I’m going to continue to call out what I see as bad reviews.)
This is probably 4.5 stars overall. Would Kaye have actually brought Turner’s first visions further forward had he written this? Maybe. But, overall? Reasonably well written.
My background? I knew who Turner was. I knew the bare bones of his rebellion. I did not know that he was an actual Methodist preacher, one who claimed to have received visions as well as a spiritual call, with the last vision calling for him to lead the rebellion. I did not know he was literate.
The book starts with some good and necessary backgrounding.
First is the separation between British and American Methodism over slavery. By early 1800s, most of Southern American Methodism was still preaching virtue of individual manumissions while rejecting calls for any sort of even gradual abolition across society. By the time of Nat’s uprising, even the call for individual manumission had been tamped down.
Contra a 2-star black reviewer and a 3-star white one, I found this HIGHLY relevant to the narrative, putting Nat in a “sitz in leben.”
Second and in parallel is Virginia law of early 1800s making it harder to manumit and theoretically requiring freedmen to move out of area. I read a book about freed blacks from Virginia who moved to Ohio in either 1830s or 1840s.
Nat? Big vision about 1825 after a month-long runaway. Tells him to go back to slavery while also seemingly offering the first instruction to fight it.
Later 1820s visions included blood on leaves, for which the author offers multiple naturalistic explanations, and the reported seeing of Egyptian hieroglyphics, shades of Joseph Smith.
Kaye calls Turner’s actual fight “herem” war, a la that allegedly fought by Israel in Joshua and detailed elsewhere in the Former Prophets, as in the holocaust Yahweh orders Saul to commit against the Amalekites. He does indicate this is a controversial take among Turner scholars. It’s the one take on Turner’s religious background I’d question.
One final main note of his is how many “poor whites” in the militia that responded wanted to kill any blacks they saw. This appears to be in part to cow them, in part to push some white owners to sell their land and move, and to kill any free blacks they could to free up their lands for possession as well. White slaveowners who may have led the militia, and who definitely had political and legal leadership, fought this, in part to establish the rule of law against insurrection fears, but also to fight the irreplaceable loss of their own slaves, whether death in fighting or execution on conviction. A side note to that is owners requesting commutation of death penalties to sale and deportation.
The legacies, beyond the concluding chapter? Manumission in Virginia in particular and the Upper South in general became even harder. Teaching slaves to read became tougher. Separate denominations within both Methodism and the Baptist world arose for blacks and whites, as well as northern-southern splits.
One other note to the black 2-star reviewer. Kaye and Downs indicate clearly the name of the man who led the 1800 revolt is simply “Gabriel,” and that we don’t have enough information to attach a surname, “Prosser” or whatever, to him. Next time you’re feeling offensive, maybe read more carefully. (And, yes, I’m going to continue to call out what I see as bad reviews.)
January 20, 2025
An as-comprehensive-as-possible examination of an enthralling historical figure and the environment which drove him to take such consequential actions. Kaye's research not only takes Nat's claims of prophetic visions as serious inspiration for inciting rebellion, but also places them in the context of a Methodist fervor informing nearly all aspects of early 19th century American society, especially the practice of slavery and its various contradictions (or justifications) under Christianity.
The book spends a stunning amount of text on Nat's upbringing in Southampton County and works to familiarize the reader with the area, the horrific lives of enslaved people, the familial and economic ties that bind their white owners, and the shared religious beliefs between the two groups. For history nerds interested in this era, these passages are a dream. In a similar fashion, the book places the religious motivations behind Nat's decision making and the possible inspirations behind his visions of The Spirit under an atomic microscope, citing quotes from up and down the Bible along the way.
And here's the thing: this is truly why Nat Turner, Black Prophet exists. Author Anthony E. Kaye tragically passed while in the process of compiling his exhaustive research into a finished manuscript and the task of finishing the book was entrusted to fellow historian Gregory P. Downs, whose writing adheres to Kaye's conclusions and enthusiasms as closely as possible. What Kaye sought to prove by writing this is that Nat's motives did not align with a secular perspective, such as material gain or hatred for the institution of slavery, but his belief in being a prophet and his communications with The Spirit were fundamentally rooted in a history of Methodist religiosity which shaped his thoughts and the world around him. This perspective is undoubtedly necessary to understanding Nat and his rebellion, but a student of theology I am not. When the book diverges from the historical narrative it's weaving to touch upon this or that story from Revelations or Genesis or Job or one of the other ones, it's no doubt covering essential context. However, my eyes can't help but become a tad glazed over, especially when the pacing frustratingly grinds to a halt during the climactic account of Nat's short-lived crusade. These theological deep dives are further hindered by Downs' necessary speculation, as he is forced to make conclusive sense of Kaye's unfinished research, much of which is based on a primary document written by a white attorney interviewing Nat before his execution. I don't envy the position of needing to make inferences on top of inferences, and I recognize that this is exclusively a me problem, not an issue with the book.
Altogether, the work showcased in these pages are invaluable and it's a miracle all the ideas and research came together in such a comprehensive text. Despite my apprehensions to its theological focus, it is this unique perspective that makes the book a necessary read not just on the subject of Nat Turner, but American slavery at large.
The book spends a stunning amount of text on Nat's upbringing in Southampton County and works to familiarize the reader with the area, the horrific lives of enslaved people, the familial and economic ties that bind their white owners, and the shared religious beliefs between the two groups. For history nerds interested in this era, these passages are a dream. In a similar fashion, the book places the religious motivations behind Nat's decision making and the possible inspirations behind his visions of The Spirit under an atomic microscope, citing quotes from up and down the Bible along the way.
And here's the thing: this is truly why Nat Turner, Black Prophet exists. Author Anthony E. Kaye tragically passed while in the process of compiling his exhaustive research into a finished manuscript and the task of finishing the book was entrusted to fellow historian Gregory P. Downs, whose writing adheres to Kaye's conclusions and enthusiasms as closely as possible. What Kaye sought to prove by writing this is that Nat's motives did not align with a secular perspective, such as material gain or hatred for the institution of slavery, but his belief in being a prophet and his communications with The Spirit were fundamentally rooted in a history of Methodist religiosity which shaped his thoughts and the world around him. This perspective is undoubtedly necessary to understanding Nat and his rebellion, but a student of theology I am not. When the book diverges from the historical narrative it's weaving to touch upon this or that story from Revelations or Genesis or Job or one of the other ones, it's no doubt covering essential context. However, my eyes can't help but become a tad glazed over, especially when the pacing frustratingly grinds to a halt during the climactic account of Nat's short-lived crusade. These theological deep dives are further hindered by Downs' necessary speculation, as he is forced to make conclusive sense of Kaye's unfinished research, much of which is based on a primary document written by a white attorney interviewing Nat before his execution. I don't envy the position of needing to make inferences on top of inferences, and I recognize that this is exclusively a me problem, not an issue with the book.
Altogether, the work showcased in these pages are invaluable and it's a miracle all the ideas and research came together in such a comprehensive text. Despite my apprehensions to its theological focus, it is this unique perspective that makes the book a necessary read not just on the subject of Nat Turner, but American slavery at large.
April 27, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
“Nat Turner, Black Prophet: A Visionary History” by Anthony E. Kaye, with contributions from Gregory P. Downs, is a compelling and meticulously researched work that offers a fresh perspective on one of the most enigmatic figures in American history. The book is set to be released on August 13, 2024, and promises to be a significant contribution to the field of historical literature.
At the heart of this narrative is the figure of Nat Turner, an enslaved preacher whose name is synonymous with the largest slave revolt in the United States. Turner’s rebellion in 1831 was a pivotal moment in American history, and Kaye’s work delves deep into the spiritual and prophetic dimensions that drove Turner to lead this uprising.
Kaye’s approach is unique in that he does not shy away from Turner’s divine visions. Instead, he places these spiritual experiences at the center of the narrative, tracing their roots back to the world of nineteenth-century Methodism. This context provides a rich backdrop against which the events of the rebellion unfold, offering readers a deeper understanding of Turner’s motivations and the religious fervor that fueled his actions.
The book also explores the broader implications of the rebellion, particularly how it accelerated the end of a world where interracial churches and Black preachers were more common in the South. The aftermath of Turner’s revolt led to stricter controls over the enslaved population, even as the fear of further uprisings continued to shape the political landscape.
Kaye, along with Downs, presents a narrative that is both historical and prophetic, one that honors Turner’s legacy without sanitizing the violence and desperation of his struggle for freedom. The prose is engaging, and the research is thorough, making “Nat Turner, Black Prophet: A Visionary History” a must-read for anyone interested in the complexities of American slavery and the enduring impact of Turner’s rebellion.
In conclusion, this book is not just a recounting of historical events; it is an exploration of the human spirit’s quest for liberation and the profound ways in which faith can inspire revolutionary change. It is a testament to the power of visionaries like Nat Turner, who, despite the constraints of their time, dared to envision a world of freedom and fought valiantly to bring it into being.
“Nat Turner, Black Prophet: A Visionary History” by Anthony E. Kaye, with contributions from Gregory P. Downs, is a compelling and meticulously researched work that offers a fresh perspective on one of the most enigmatic figures in American history. The book is set to be released on August 13, 2024, and promises to be a significant contribution to the field of historical literature.
At the heart of this narrative is the figure of Nat Turner, an enslaved preacher whose name is synonymous with the largest slave revolt in the United States. Turner’s rebellion in 1831 was a pivotal moment in American history, and Kaye’s work delves deep into the spiritual and prophetic dimensions that drove Turner to lead this uprising.
Kaye’s approach is unique in that he does not shy away from Turner’s divine visions. Instead, he places these spiritual experiences at the center of the narrative, tracing their roots back to the world of nineteenth-century Methodism. This context provides a rich backdrop against which the events of the rebellion unfold, offering readers a deeper understanding of Turner’s motivations and the religious fervor that fueled his actions.
The book also explores the broader implications of the rebellion, particularly how it accelerated the end of a world where interracial churches and Black preachers were more common in the South. The aftermath of Turner’s revolt led to stricter controls over the enslaved population, even as the fear of further uprisings continued to shape the political landscape.
Kaye, along with Downs, presents a narrative that is both historical and prophetic, one that honors Turner’s legacy without sanitizing the violence and desperation of his struggle for freedom. The prose is engaging, and the research is thorough, making “Nat Turner, Black Prophet: A Visionary History” a must-read for anyone interested in the complexities of American slavery and the enduring impact of Turner’s rebellion.
In conclusion, this book is not just a recounting of historical events; it is an exploration of the human spirit’s quest for liberation and the profound ways in which faith can inspire revolutionary change. It is a testament to the power of visionaries like Nat Turner, who, despite the constraints of their time, dared to envision a world of freedom and fought valiantly to bring it into being.
August 25, 2024
Nat Turner, Black Prophet is a well-researched book. The author draws on primary sources that must have been difficult to decipher. Kudos for the research. Unfortunately, the book is not well-written, at least partially because the author has failed to clearly define his thesis.
One reason for these failings maybe because Anthony E. Kaye didn't write the book--Gregory P. Downs did. Kaye was dying of cancer when he sent Downs all his research and very preliminary drafts. Downs' job was to turn it all into a book.
It took me a long time to understand exactly where Downs was taking me. Even though Turner is called a "Black Prophet" right in the title, it took about 100 pages before I realized what Downs was trying to say. In essence, it's this: Nat Turner saw himself as a prophet like those in the Old Testament. This was because of his association with the Methodist church. The lessons of Methodism led Turner in this direction.
This thesis leads to another problem I found with the book: its failure to address the possibility that Turner was deranged. When I hear of people who claim to see visions and hear voices, I have two thoughts: #1--they're manipulative; #2--they're crazy. Downs is trying to give us a sane Turner, a man who carried out his rebellion because God was directing him to, just as God had directed the Old Testament prophets. Don't you see? It all makes sense now.
Except it doesn't. I'm willing to believe that Turner's Methodism informed some of his mental disturbance. I'm willing to believe that Turner's Methodism informed his rage. What I'm not willing to believe is that Turner honestly believed he was being spoken to by God--unless he's insane.
One reason for these failings maybe because Anthony E. Kaye didn't write the book--Gregory P. Downs did. Kaye was dying of cancer when he sent Downs all his research and very preliminary drafts. Downs' job was to turn it all into a book.
It took me a long time to understand exactly where Downs was taking me. Even though Turner is called a "Black Prophet" right in the title, it took about 100 pages before I realized what Downs was trying to say. In essence, it's this: Nat Turner saw himself as a prophet like those in the Old Testament. This was because of his association with the Methodist church. The lessons of Methodism led Turner in this direction.
This thesis leads to another problem I found with the book: its failure to address the possibility that Turner was deranged. When I hear of people who claim to see visions and hear voices, I have two thoughts: #1--they're manipulative; #2--they're crazy. Downs is trying to give us a sane Turner, a man who carried out his rebellion because God was directing him to, just as God had directed the Old Testament prophets. Don't you see? It all makes sense now.
Except it doesn't. I'm willing to believe that Turner's Methodism informed some of his mental disturbance. I'm willing to believe that Turner's Methodism informed his rage. What I'm not willing to believe is that Turner honestly believed he was being spoken to by God--unless he's insane.
September 16, 2024
Nat’s Divine Retribution
The Nat Turner Rebellion of 1831 is such a well-known episode in history; already covered quite thoroughly in books, movies, etc… However, the approach taken in Nat Turner: A Visionary History is from the perspective of Nat, the prophet, the warrior, and specifically the religious experience that was the genesis and motivation for Nat and his rebellion. For Nat, the primary objective of his rebellion was not to end slavery, but, based upon his visions, he hoped, ride or die, to usher in a whole new world:
“...faith could not promise him either survival or success, only that his actions were part of God’s plan.” (p. 114).
Also, woven throughout is an analysis of the Methodist movement of the time, some of their shifting views on slavery, how it was an influence on Nat, on others, and on post-rebellion behavior.
Coincidently, this is the second book I’ve read this year where faith or spirituality is the focal point in regards to a prominent person in African-American history. See similar book: "Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People".
The Nat Turner Rebellion of 1831 is such a well-known episode in history; already covered quite thoroughly in books, movies, etc… However, the approach taken in Nat Turner: A Visionary History is from the perspective of Nat, the prophet, the warrior, and specifically the religious experience that was the genesis and motivation for Nat and his rebellion. For Nat, the primary objective of his rebellion was not to end slavery, but, based upon his visions, he hoped, ride or die, to usher in a whole new world:
“...faith could not promise him either survival or success, only that his actions were part of God’s plan.” (p. 114).
Also, woven throughout is an analysis of the Methodist movement of the time, some of their shifting views on slavery, how it was an influence on Nat, on others, and on post-rebellion behavior.
Coincidently, this is the second book I’ve read this year where faith or spirituality is the focal point in regards to a prominent person in African-American history. See similar book: "Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People".
January 14, 2025
For the last few years, I've been pretty obsessed with reading everything I can about the Nat Turner Rebellion of 1831 because I grew up in Isle of Wight co which neighbors Southampton. I know this area very well and this pivotal moment in history was never really taught to us in school except for a passing footnote or in a couple of sentences that implied Nat and fellow slaves just up and murdered kind, innocent, benevolent plantation owners. The main premise of this novel explores the role of religion esp Methodist in shaping Nat's belief that he was God's chosen prophet to bring his people to the figurative & literal Jerusalem that was the county seat and would be renamed Courtland (I did not know that). Repercussions exist to this very day from those events and there are family descendants still in the area. Enslaved people and free Black people suffered from violent backlash. This is an area where cotton is still grown, confederate flags still fly and 5 segregation academies were founded east, west, north and south. The most poignant part of this novel is co author Gregory Downs words about how he worked intensely with Tony Kaye (all his research) and Tony was dying of cancer and didn't get to see his work published.
January 18, 2025
Actual Rating 2.5
This book is a tough one for me to rate. It is advertised as a biography of Nat Turner, but I'm not sure if I'd classify it as that. Nat's life and actions aren't the primary focus of this work. What this work does feel like is a history of the Methodist church in early America, especially in the ways it overlapped with certain things like a focus on nature and how different Christian sects reacted to slavery.
Nat's story ends up feeling rather disjointed and like it takes a backseat to the massive amount of historical context that is included. There were some interesting aspects brought up surrounding early Methodism in the U.S. and how slavery was a contentious point for many congregations. But while this broader history was tangentially relevant to Nat's life, it could have been pared down to allow more of a focus on the man.
While I was expecting a vibrant and informative biography, I got more of a dry religious history. If you're interested in the religious history of the early U.S., you may enjoy this one. I don't necessarily recommend it if you're looking for a biography, though. My thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This book is a tough one for me to rate. It is advertised as a biography of Nat Turner, but I'm not sure if I'd classify it as that. Nat's life and actions aren't the primary focus of this work. What this work does feel like is a history of the Methodist church in early America, especially in the ways it overlapped with certain things like a focus on nature and how different Christian sects reacted to slavery.
Nat's story ends up feeling rather disjointed and like it takes a backseat to the massive amount of historical context that is included. There were some interesting aspects brought up surrounding early Methodism in the U.S. and how slavery was a contentious point for many congregations. But while this broader history was tangentially relevant to Nat's life, it could have been pared down to allow more of a focus on the man.
While I was expecting a vibrant and informative biography, I got more of a dry religious history. If you're interested in the religious history of the early U.S., you may enjoy this one. I don't necessarily recommend it if you're looking for a biography, though. My thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
September 28, 2024
Nat Turner, Black Prophet, Anthony E. Kaye with Gregory P. Downs [Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2024].
A historian’s account of Nat Turner who lead a slave uprising in Virginia in 1831, which ultimately claimed the lives of more than one hundred people. Drawing inspiration from Biblical stories of martyrdom and apocalypse, Turner’s uprising is cast, not merely as a rebellion or act of resistance to oppression, but as an act of war.
***
Anthony E. Kaye was a professor of American History at Pennsylvania State University and an expert in African-American History and the U.S. Civil War. He died of esophageal cancer in 2017.
Gregory P. Downs is a professor at the University of California, Davis and the author of the Flannery O’Connor Award winning short story collection Spit Bath as well as scholarly historical texts, including After Appomattox.
A historian’s account of Nat Turner who lead a slave uprising in Virginia in 1831, which ultimately claimed the lives of more than one hundred people. Drawing inspiration from Biblical stories of martyrdom and apocalypse, Turner’s uprising is cast, not merely as a rebellion or act of resistance to oppression, but as an act of war.
***
Anthony E. Kaye was a professor of American History at Pennsylvania State University and an expert in African-American History and the U.S. Civil War. He died of esophageal cancer in 2017.
Gregory P. Downs is a professor at the University of California, Davis and the author of the Flannery O’Connor Award winning short story collection Spit Bath as well as scholarly historical texts, including After Appomattox.
October 7, 2025
Kaye did not live to complete the book. It is a bit clumsy, awkward, perhaps a bit of an overload of Biblical quotations. Kaye is determined to portray Nat Turner as a prophet. It is possible that after 300 years of slavery in the U.S. (enslaved Africans were first transported here in 1526), and only 30 years before the start of the Civil War, it was a time for "signs," and Turner was aware of them. This is a good book to answer the question "why didn't the slaves simply rebel?," because the answer is, you will be killed, and many innocent people will be killed. Additionally, as noted by Lorenzo Johnston Greene, slave rebellions resulted in more restrictive laws.
December 21, 2025
A most detailed account of Nat Turner's Rebellion of 1831 near where I grew up in Virginia. The author(s) analyze everything about the event, from Nat's biblical inspirations to the conditions in the area that led it to happen and the trials afterward. Nat saw himself as a Prophet in the Old Testament style and deluded himself into thinking that he a band of slaves could kill the 2,000+ whites in the county and take it over as a free state. A really good book with an excellent narrative, step-by-step, of the massacre itself. A marvelous work of history.
December 12, 2025
This was an excellent book about Nat Turner, but also one that pushes its thesis a tad too far. It is strongest in its portrayal of Nat as a war leader in a difficult position, and helps explain his tactical and strategic decisions. It is excellent too in explaining both black and white southhampton, and explaining the political and religious context around Nat’s rebellion.
But it also argues that Nat would have seen himself in a religious context, absent the liberal/democratic tradition. These are not incompatible, as subsequent generations of black leaders would make clear. Dr. King was a preacher, as were many of the leaders of the civil rights movement. They were part of both a religious and a liberal tradition.
And while faith likely gave Nat strength, it’s hard to see the author’s attributing of specific Bible passages to Nat’s thinking in specific moments as anything more than historical fiction.
Still, I do recommend this book. Even when it overstates its case, a vivid portrait of Nat shines through.
But it also argues that Nat would have seen himself in a religious context, absent the liberal/democratic tradition. These are not incompatible, as subsequent generations of black leaders would make clear. Dr. King was a preacher, as were many of the leaders of the civil rights movement. They were part of both a religious and a liberal tradition.
And while faith likely gave Nat strength, it’s hard to see the author’s attributing of specific Bible passages to Nat’s thinking in specific moments as anything more than historical fiction.
Still, I do recommend this book. Even when it overstates its case, a vivid portrait of Nat shines through.
October 11, 2024
Excellent Read. We definitely didn't learn about Nat Turner when covering Virginia history in school..
December 31, 2024
in carolyn walker bynum territory
March 20, 2025
This was more of a Methodist history book than it was a biography on Nat Turner.
June 24, 2025
unlike an history book i’ve ever read!! convincing, clever, biblical, and truly innovative. delivers a story i’ve heard before in a light ive never imagined.
December 22, 2025
A good history of the life of Nat Turner.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews