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Black Victorians
A landmark work of revisionist history exploring and celebrating the lives of Black Victorians.
Our vision of Victorian Britain tends to the monolithic – white, imperialist, prurient, patrician. However, though until very recently overlooked in our textbooks, there was another, more diverse Britain, populated by people of colour marking achievements both ordinary and extraordinary.
In this deeply researched, dynamic and revelatory history, Woolf and Abraham reach back into the archives to recentre our attention on marginalised Black Victorians, from leading medic George Rice to protestor William Cuffay to attention-grabbing abolitionists Henry ‘Box’ Brown and Sarah Parker Remond; from pre-Raphaelite muse Fanny Eaton to composer Samuel Coleridge Taylor. Black Victorians shows how Black lives were visible, present and influential – not temporary presences but established and rooted; and how paradox and ambivalence characterised the Victorian view of race.
Our vision of Victorian Britain tends to the monolithic – white, imperialist, prurient, patrician. However, though until very recently overlooked in our textbooks, there was another, more diverse Britain, populated by people of colour marking achievements both ordinary and extraordinary.
In this deeply researched, dynamic and revelatory history, Woolf and Abraham reach back into the archives to recentre our attention on marginalised Black Victorians, from leading medic George Rice to protestor William Cuffay to attention-grabbing abolitionists Henry ‘Box’ Brown and Sarah Parker Remond; from pre-Raphaelite muse Fanny Eaton to composer Samuel Coleridge Taylor. Black Victorians shows how Black lives were visible, present and influential – not temporary presences but established and rooted; and how paradox and ambivalence characterised the Victorian view of race.
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First published September 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 30, 2022
Thank you, NetGalley for presenting me with a copy of this book for a fair review.
The book starts off strong with the author, John Woolf, questioning himself if he should be the one writing a book like this since he's a white man. The fact that he does question this and notes that there are a lot of black historians out there who can do as well a job as he does (Like Keshia N. Abraham) shows me that he means no ill intent by writing this. To quote him: 'As a result, this book is not the product of a white historian 'thinking black'; rather, it is a collaborative history that contemplates questions of 'race" in the nineteenth century.' In his introduction, it's very clear that he and N. Abraham had a great bond so I trust her judgement of him.
The book itself is such an important piece of information. It shares the lives of black people during the nineteenth century from every class. So, not only does this book show the upper class more well-known activists and artists, but it also talks about those that lived inside of asylums and those in jail. One of the things that stuck with me is the daughter of William Brown writing him letters which show how much he was loved even if he was stuck inside the asylum. There were a lot of parts in this book where they showed the emotional toll of these lives as well. For example, I learned that black performers also performed minstrel shows to make ends meet. Horrible but understandable in the climate they had to work in.
The book is full of inspiring stories and I was surprised that I haven't heard about some of these people. As a white person myself it visualises what these people went through as well as the trauma that some black people still carry on to this day. Highly recommend for anyone who's a history buff or who's an activist.
The book starts off strong with the author, John Woolf, questioning himself if he should be the one writing a book like this since he's a white man. The fact that he does question this and notes that there are a lot of black historians out there who can do as well a job as he does (Like Keshia N. Abraham) shows me that he means no ill intent by writing this. To quote him: 'As a result, this book is not the product of a white historian 'thinking black'; rather, it is a collaborative history that contemplates questions of 'race" in the nineteenth century.' In his introduction, it's very clear that he and N. Abraham had a great bond so I trust her judgement of him.
The book itself is such an important piece of information. It shares the lives of black people during the nineteenth century from every class. So, not only does this book show the upper class more well-known activists and artists, but it also talks about those that lived inside of asylums and those in jail. One of the things that stuck with me is the daughter of William Brown writing him letters which show how much he was loved even if he was stuck inside the asylum. There were a lot of parts in this book where they showed the emotional toll of these lives as well. For example, I learned that black performers also performed minstrel shows to make ends meet. Horrible but understandable in the climate they had to work in.
The book is full of inspiring stories and I was surprised that I haven't heard about some of these people. As a white person myself it visualises what these people went through as well as the trauma that some black people still carry on to this day. Highly recommend for anyone who's a history buff or who's an activist.
August 30, 2022
History is unofficially defined as being the story of the victors. That is to say, it is written from the perspective of the winners. When this is done, whole swathes of people and events are often marginalized, if not omitted outright. That is why a book like "Black Victorians Hidden in History" is such a necessary and vital read.
Authored by Keshia N. Abraham and John Woolf, "Black Victorians" presents profiles of 16 Black men and women who played pivotal roles in Britain. While the book has 5 parts, the profiles are grouped into 4 chapters in parts 2 through 5, with each group of 4 bound together by a common characteristic.
Written in a lively, informative tone, there are times when the authors become repetitive. I'm sure this was probably done for emphasis, but when it happens multiple times in each profiles, it becomes tedious.
Despite the moments of tedium, the book was extremely enlightening. I alredy knew about 5 out of the 16 people. So it was quite fascinating to learn about the other 11, particularly those who had a connection to Sierra Leone, where my parents are from. I especially enjoyed the chapter on composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, as I am a music lover. It spurred me to listen to his composition 'Hiawatha', which I found to be powerful and moving.
This book is not meant to be one the read zips through, but rather one that should be read carefully and purposefully. The goal of the authors was to shine a light on little-known or recognized black Victorians, and in this they were extremely successful. They more than demonstrated that black Victorians, and Black people period, were and are integral members of society and history.
The book ends with a fitting quote from Carter G. Woodson, about what history should really be: "...What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race, hate, and religious prejudice..." How wonderful it would be if this could truly happen.
Thanks to NetGalley, Keshia N. Abraham & John Woolf, and Duckworth Books for this advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Authored by Keshia N. Abraham and John Woolf, "Black Victorians" presents profiles of 16 Black men and women who played pivotal roles in Britain. While the book has 5 parts, the profiles are grouped into 4 chapters in parts 2 through 5, with each group of 4 bound together by a common characteristic.
Written in a lively, informative tone, there are times when the authors become repetitive. I'm sure this was probably done for emphasis, but when it happens multiple times in each profiles, it becomes tedious.
Despite the moments of tedium, the book was extremely enlightening. I alredy knew about 5 out of the 16 people. So it was quite fascinating to learn about the other 11, particularly those who had a connection to Sierra Leone, where my parents are from. I especially enjoyed the chapter on composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, as I am a music lover. It spurred me to listen to his composition 'Hiawatha', which I found to be powerful and moving.
This book is not meant to be one the read zips through, but rather one that should be read carefully and purposefully. The goal of the authors was to shine a light on little-known or recognized black Victorians, and in this they were extremely successful. They more than demonstrated that black Victorians, and Black people period, were and are integral members of society and history.
The book ends with a fitting quote from Carter G. Woodson, about what history should really be: "...What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race, hate, and religious prejudice..." How wonderful it would be if this could truly happen.
Thanks to NetGalley, Keshia N. Abraham & John Woolf, and Duckworth Books for this advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 15, 2022
I started a podcast which studies Black women throughout time and space, in worlds real and imagined. Season one focused on Black women in romantic period pieces, such as "Bridgerton" and "Sanditon." After much ill-informed critique about Black people throughout history, and where these Black people might be found, this book provides a well-researched record to re-inform said critique. From the foreword to end, this book is filled with facts that inform and humanize the subjects, but never patronize the reader. I would add this to your reading if you are studying, casting, writing, or critiquing period pieces and struggle with diversity.
September 16, 2022
An excellently researched and easily readable work that brought Black Victorians into focus from the lens of history that too often obscured and sometimes completely hid their presence. This was not a general history of Black Victorian experience but rather showed the wide rage of People of Color in all layers of society from insane asylums to aristocratic circles, from the church to the arts and political activity and protest through biographical sketches of people that may or may not be known to you. This monograph flowed easily between the interesting stories of these people lives to analysis and providing a context in which to view their actions and agency for they were not passive victims whatever their triumphs, tragedies and prejudices they faced. As one of the author noted, "...this book is concerned with resilience, not victimhood."
This work discussed "race" set in the context of the Victorian period. It was not limited to either "blacks" or "whites." The authors also reminded us that Victorians did not view race the same as we do today. And Victorians did not view race in the same manner as it was viewed in the United States. In fact, "the" Victorian view of race changed through time. It hardened and prejudice became more prevalent even while there were forces that challenged that view point. Thoughts and biases were often contradictory and hard to define with exact parameters. However, the authors identified strong influences throughout the period on the ever shifting perception of "race". This work was not mainly about those factors but were necessary to be discussed to view the people featured in this book in the right context. To ignore these factors that were in society would be another way to continue to obscure these people from history. It would also ignore the fact as Richard Wright said, "whites governed the conditions through which the discourse of race emerged and endures," which has impacted the presence of Blacks (capitalized for a reason as mentioned in the book) in historical discourse.
This was not Black history. This was history. Some of the people had large influences on movements and events that have been studied in the "main steam" history books for almost two centuries. The artistic influences of some of the people discussed are still felt today. While others were examples of people that were often not represented in the traditional narrative of history, i.e. insane asylum residents. The biographical accounts presented allow these people to be seen in history, that they were present. And that was and is important because, "...it is to history that we owe our frames of references, our identities, our aspirations." (James Baldwin)
I knew of some of the people (and those that I knew I learned more about and was challenged to view in a new way) while a majority I had not heard of. Finding out about William Darby, a/k/a Pablo Fanque, a talented and enterprising circus performer and owner was fascinating.
I was very glad the authors included Sarah Parker Remond a woman I greatly admire but does not often get mentioned. She was an African-American woman born to a non-enslaved, relatively well-off family in Massachusetts who challenged the norm that women did not speak in public to do Antislavery lectures in Great Britain with great success in front of thousands of people. She was part of the Executive Committee of a mostly white Antislavery Group in London during the American Civil War and wrote several pamphlets for the group. She also wanted to pursue her education which was not possible in America. She became a nurse and eventually a doctor and practiced medicine for about 20 years. Amazing!
I highly recommend this book. It was easy to read for people of all levels and still provided plenty of academic references. It was interesting too.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
This work discussed "race" set in the context of the Victorian period. It was not limited to either "blacks" or "whites." The authors also reminded us that Victorians did not view race the same as we do today. And Victorians did not view race in the same manner as it was viewed in the United States. In fact, "the" Victorian view of race changed through time. It hardened and prejudice became more prevalent even while there were forces that challenged that view point. Thoughts and biases were often contradictory and hard to define with exact parameters. However, the authors identified strong influences throughout the period on the ever shifting perception of "race". This work was not mainly about those factors but were necessary to be discussed to view the people featured in this book in the right context. To ignore these factors that were in society would be another way to continue to obscure these people from history. It would also ignore the fact as Richard Wright said, "whites governed the conditions through which the discourse of race emerged and endures," which has impacted the presence of Blacks (capitalized for a reason as mentioned in the book) in historical discourse.
This was not Black history. This was history. Some of the people had large influences on movements and events that have been studied in the "main steam" history books for almost two centuries. The artistic influences of some of the people discussed are still felt today. While others were examples of people that were often not represented in the traditional narrative of history, i.e. insane asylum residents. The biographical accounts presented allow these people to be seen in history, that they were present. And that was and is important because, "...it is to history that we owe our frames of references, our identities, our aspirations." (James Baldwin)
I knew of some of the people (and those that I knew I learned more about and was challenged to view in a new way) while a majority I had not heard of. Finding out about William Darby, a/k/a Pablo Fanque, a talented and enterprising circus performer and owner was fascinating.
I was very glad the authors included Sarah Parker Remond a woman I greatly admire but does not often get mentioned. She was an African-American woman born to a non-enslaved, relatively well-off family in Massachusetts who challenged the norm that women did not speak in public to do Antislavery lectures in Great Britain with great success in front of thousands of people. She was part of the Executive Committee of a mostly white Antislavery Group in London during the American Civil War and wrote several pamphlets for the group. She also wanted to pursue her education which was not possible in America. She became a nurse and eventually a doctor and practiced medicine for about 20 years. Amazing!
I highly recommend this book. It was easy to read for people of all levels and still provided plenty of academic references. It was interesting too.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
November 10, 2023
Trigger warnings: racism, colonialism, slavery, incarceration, poverty, death, death of a child, racial slurs
4.5 stars
The early stages of this book in which the scene is set for the Victorian era and the diversity of the population? 10/10. Spectacular. Loved it. Engaging and eye opening and brilliantly written. I wanted to highlight practically every line.
And then the story took a shift as it got into individual histories of individual people. And don't get me wrong, they were still fascinating and engrossing, and I really enjoyed what I read. I just want to note that the final section - which predominantly focuses on formerly enslaved Americans who've made their way to Britain - did SOMEWHAT lose me because there was a lot more overlap than I anticipated, and it would have been nice if at least one of the characters fighting for emancipation and equality was, you know, Not American. Yes, I know slavery was abolished in Britain decades before it was abolished in the US. But the fact remains, that final section of the book wasn't as hard hitting for me as the rest of it was, and it's purely because it was so US-centric.
Anyway. This was great. I loved it. I just wish the ending hadn't played out QUITE the way it did...
4.5 stars
The early stages of this book in which the scene is set for the Victorian era and the diversity of the population? 10/10. Spectacular. Loved it. Engaging and eye opening and brilliantly written. I wanted to highlight practically every line.
And then the story took a shift as it got into individual histories of individual people. And don't get me wrong, they were still fascinating and engrossing, and I really enjoyed what I read. I just want to note that the final section - which predominantly focuses on formerly enslaved Americans who've made their way to Britain - did SOMEWHAT lose me because there was a lot more overlap than I anticipated, and it would have been nice if at least one of the characters fighting for emancipation and equality was, you know, Not American. Yes, I know slavery was abolished in Britain decades before it was abolished in the US. But the fact remains, that final section of the book wasn't as hard hitting for me as the rest of it was, and it's purely because it was so US-centric.
Anyway. This was great. I loved it. I just wish the ending hadn't played out QUITE the way it did...
September 9, 2022
Black Victorians: Hidden in History, by Keshia N Abraham and John Woolf, is an enlightening and accessible work that recovers from history important Blacks from the Victorian period.
The opening section nicely contextualizes just how many Blacks, as well as members of other marginalized groups, were erased or ignored as the histories were written. In the blink of an eye a person could go from having a work dedicated to them to being removed from the dedication and future association with the person. While race may not have been the only factor in a few of these, it no doubt played a large role in how effectively these people were forgotten.
No matter how many of these names are new to you, each profile is interesting and will likely contain information you didn't know. Having these together in one volume helps to illustrate the degree to which, even in places that were relatively progressive for the time, there was a distinct difference in how Blacks were remembered.
While not academic in the writing, there are a lot of very useful notes (especially for those wanting to learn more) and an extensive bibliography. The body of the book is wonderful, but I think the value lies in how many readers and researchers will use this as a springboard into future research and recovery efforts. And the bibliography included here will be a great resource for them.
Highly recommended for both the casual reader who wants a better grasp of the history that gets overlooked in school as well as the person who might want to do more research, whether formally or not.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
The opening section nicely contextualizes just how many Blacks, as well as members of other marginalized groups, were erased or ignored as the histories were written. In the blink of an eye a person could go from having a work dedicated to them to being removed from the dedication and future association with the person. While race may not have been the only factor in a few of these, it no doubt played a large role in how effectively these people were forgotten.
No matter how many of these names are new to you, each profile is interesting and will likely contain information you didn't know. Having these together in one volume helps to illustrate the degree to which, even in places that were relatively progressive for the time, there was a distinct difference in how Blacks were remembered.
While not academic in the writing, there are a lot of very useful notes (especially for those wanting to learn more) and an extensive bibliography. The body of the book is wonderful, but I think the value lies in how many readers and researchers will use this as a springboard into future research and recovery efforts. And the bibliography included here will be a great resource for them.
Highly recommended for both the casual reader who wants a better grasp of the history that gets overlooked in school as well as the person who might want to do more research, whether formally or not.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
February 4, 2024
Absolutely brilliant. Borrowed from the library and then bought my own copy. I will be dipping into this book over and over again.
July 28, 2022
First, let me begin this review by stating: I WANT A COPY OF THIS BOOK. Please, Somebody, get me this for Whatever-the-Next-Gifting-Holiday-is! I also fervently hope that Duckworth Books will have this available (at a reasonable price!) through an American imprint so it can be adopted for college courses in the United States. This is the perfect book for a decolonizing history curriculum whether the course is focused on Modern Europe, Black History, History of Racism, Modern World -- or, in my case -- Roots of Contemporary Issues.
The reasons: First, the book is broken down into assignable, digestible thematic sections and chapters which focus on a single individual and their historical significance. Part One is "Context and Concealment" and it provides an overview of the state of black history in Europe and in Victorian Era historiography. Here, the point is made that the act of existing is resistance itself, it is a decolonizing act to just be. Bringing these histories to the forefront is a necessary and powerful step towards decolonizing history as it is popularly understood, historical narrative, and the academy. The following sections: "Struggle and Survival", "Church and State", "Cultural VIPs", and "Fighting for Freedom" offer well-researched deep dives into specific individuals across all classes, genders, and social positions. Working class black Britons, criminals, socialites, intellectuals, clergy, activists and freedom fighters are given a moment of spotlight and discussed as part of a larger colored and white fabric of Victorian society. This is a fantastic prosopography. And it could easily be partitioned to assign one or a few chapters per week to undergraduate students.
The second reason this book is ideal for an undergraduate seminar or an introductory survey course is because the readability of this book is amazing. Abraham's and Woolf's prose is smooth, the language requires little effort, their arguments are explicit, allowing for an easy transition from archival data to analysis to discussion. Indeed, the shift from storytelling to analysis is so seamless that many students are likely to be fooled into reading the entirety of any chapter assigned! Bonus: I bet the kids will really enjoy it. I am told over and over by students that they love seeing the "real people" in history.
The third reason is that while its accessibility makes it the perfect addition to any library, for any level of reader, it is also perfect for the more advanced historian, including those well versed in historiography and professional history production. Simply put, our own training is steeped in colonial and orientalist standards that have obscured the presence of color and ethnicity. We need to read this. I could not help but feel joy at reading this, though I am not black I am a scholar of color and from a former colony to boot! Black Victorians: Hidden in History is not the first or only of its kind, but is part of a larger movement towards decolonizing European history, which has been and remains largely as white history. Black Victorians joins Olivette Otele's African Europeans: An Untold History (2021) and Miranda Kaufman's Black Tudors: The Untold Story (2018) and others which are highlighting the transnational presence of Black people in other eras. The "Untold" theme across these recent histories is telling and a clue to the point being made: Black People never were confined to the so-called Dark Continent, that notion was a myth promulgated by a eurocentric academy, a eurocentric world -- and Here! Here is proof!
Therefore, and perhaps most significantly, Black Victorians is bound to hit with younger readers, a generation for which representation matters and matters a lot! This is for the next generation for whom the symbols and the exhibition of blackness can have an immense impact on their decisions now and in the future. Our students of color need to see themselves in their classrooms, on the big screen (by which I mean the white board and projector screen in the front of the classroom).
All this said, merely bringing black Victorians to the forefront is not the endgame. It is not the last word on this. This is only the beginning; the conclusion emphasizes not only existence of black victorians, but points out that black victorians -- black people -- have played significant roles in shaping their moment as well as the present, thus their historical existence was not static, sealed in a vacuum, but interactive and dynamically integrated with white victorian society. This is the more powerful message, one which the book manifests.
Again, please, someone, gift me a copy of this book! I will be looking for it to assign in a future course!
The reasons: First, the book is broken down into assignable, digestible thematic sections and chapters which focus on a single individual and their historical significance. Part One is "Context and Concealment" and it provides an overview of the state of black history in Europe and in Victorian Era historiography. Here, the point is made that the act of existing is resistance itself, it is a decolonizing act to just be. Bringing these histories to the forefront is a necessary and powerful step towards decolonizing history as it is popularly understood, historical narrative, and the academy. The following sections: "Struggle and Survival", "Church and State", "Cultural VIPs", and "Fighting for Freedom" offer well-researched deep dives into specific individuals across all classes, genders, and social positions. Working class black Britons, criminals, socialites, intellectuals, clergy, activists and freedom fighters are given a moment of spotlight and discussed as part of a larger colored and white fabric of Victorian society. This is a fantastic prosopography. And it could easily be partitioned to assign one or a few chapters per week to undergraduate students.
The second reason this book is ideal for an undergraduate seminar or an introductory survey course is because the readability of this book is amazing. Abraham's and Woolf's prose is smooth, the language requires little effort, their arguments are explicit, allowing for an easy transition from archival data to analysis to discussion. Indeed, the shift from storytelling to analysis is so seamless that many students are likely to be fooled into reading the entirety of any chapter assigned! Bonus: I bet the kids will really enjoy it. I am told over and over by students that they love seeing the "real people" in history.
The third reason is that while its accessibility makes it the perfect addition to any library, for any level of reader, it is also perfect for the more advanced historian, including those well versed in historiography and professional history production. Simply put, our own training is steeped in colonial and orientalist standards that have obscured the presence of color and ethnicity. We need to read this. I could not help but feel joy at reading this, though I am not black I am a scholar of color and from a former colony to boot! Black Victorians: Hidden in History is not the first or only of its kind, but is part of a larger movement towards decolonizing European history, which has been and remains largely as white history. Black Victorians joins Olivette Otele's African Europeans: An Untold History (2021) and Miranda Kaufman's Black Tudors: The Untold Story (2018) and others which are highlighting the transnational presence of Black people in other eras. The "Untold" theme across these recent histories is telling and a clue to the point being made: Black People never were confined to the so-called Dark Continent, that notion was a myth promulgated by a eurocentric academy, a eurocentric world -- and Here! Here is proof!
Therefore, and perhaps most significantly, Black Victorians is bound to hit with younger readers, a generation for which representation matters and matters a lot! This is for the next generation for whom the symbols and the exhibition of blackness can have an immense impact on their decisions now and in the future. Our students of color need to see themselves in their classrooms, on the big screen (by which I mean the white board and projector screen in the front of the classroom).
All this said, merely bringing black Victorians to the forefront is not the endgame. It is not the last word on this. This is only the beginning; the conclusion emphasizes not only existence of black victorians, but points out that black victorians -- black people -- have played significant roles in shaping their moment as well as the present, thus their historical existence was not static, sealed in a vacuum, but interactive and dynamically integrated with white victorian society. This is the more powerful message, one which the book manifests.
Again, please, someone, gift me a copy of this book! I will be looking for it to assign in a future course!
June 29, 2023
There was a bit too much repetition in the conclusions of the earlier chapters for my taste, and I would have liked more chapters focusing on Black women, but this is an excellent exploration of Black Victorians and how they shaped Victorian society and beyond.
January 4, 2023
“Black Victorians” by Kesha N. Abraham and John Woolf is fantastic and I can’t recommend it highly enough if you are looking for insight into the Victorian age written in an easy-to-read and compelling manner!
It is broken into five parts each with a different focus. Using individuals’ stories to change perceptions of this period of time, the writers connect one with real people building empathy and understanding. Considering the immense challenges faced by each, one can’t help but admire all of the people recognised but though this highlights a few, my takeaway is there are far far more who are unnamed and need to be remembered when we use the term “Victorian”.
Being a staunch supporter of female rights, the chapters focusing on women are my favourite! Pushing back against racism and sexism in an era when neither were seen as they are today is impressive and inspiring.
If you are looking for a challenging, enlightening, and enjoyable read, this is one for you! It’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale!
It is broken into five parts each with a different focus. Using individuals’ stories to change perceptions of this period of time, the writers connect one with real people building empathy and understanding. Considering the immense challenges faced by each, one can’t help but admire all of the people recognised but though this highlights a few, my takeaway is there are far far more who are unnamed and need to be remembered when we use the term “Victorian”.
Being a staunch supporter of female rights, the chapters focusing on women are my favourite! Pushing back against racism and sexism in an era when neither were seen as they are today is impressive and inspiring.
If you are looking for a challenging, enlightening, and enjoyable read, this is one for you! It’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale!
August 8, 2022
This was a really interesting and well researched book that covered a wide range of individuals throughout the Victorian period - some I had heard of, and a great number that I had not. The depth and range of individuals was particularly important in highlighting the extent to which Victorian Britain had a long-standing Black community and how, as the authors state, the emphasis on who was 'the first' can distract from the length of time that Black people had been important and integral parts of British life.
A very important and interesting read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
A very important and interesting read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
June 16, 2023
This book was certainly an enlightening piece of work focusing on the lives of various Black individuals living in the Victorian period ranging from those who held large cultural roles in Britain, to those who led a fight for freedom for those in the United States of America.
It was incredibly moving to read about about a multitude of Black individual’s stories and life events, knowing that a lot of history has been whitewashed. For me, an individual of Caribbean heritage living in England, it was even emotional at times learning so much about Black Victorians who I had never heard of or been taught about before. Throughout this book I spent a lot of time reflecting on how my school never covered black people in British history even though it is now more clear that they were present. Some of the facts were absolutely shocking to me and I found myself highlighting sentences of this book throughout- something that I rarely do! For a non-fiction book, it definitely kept me engaged and I loved that chapters were split into themes which added an enjoyable flow.
This is definitely a must read for EVERYONE who is interested in British history (the non-whitewashed version)!
NB: Thank you to NetGalley and Duckworth Books for giving me an eARC of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It was incredibly moving to read about about a multitude of Black individual’s stories and life events, knowing that a lot of history has been whitewashed. For me, an individual of Caribbean heritage living in England, it was even emotional at times learning so much about Black Victorians who I had never heard of or been taught about before. Throughout this book I spent a lot of time reflecting on how my school never covered black people in British history even though it is now more clear that they were present. Some of the facts were absolutely shocking to me and I found myself highlighting sentences of this book throughout- something that I rarely do! For a non-fiction book, it definitely kept me engaged and I loved that chapters were split into themes which added an enjoyable flow.
This is definitely a must read for EVERYONE who is interested in British history (the non-whitewashed version)!
NB: Thank you to NetGalley and Duckworth Books for giving me an eARC of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 9, 2024
This is an enlightening book discussing a complex topic very well.
Black history is a sensitive subject with centuries of cruelty, prejudice and oversight to address. This book does so carefully and (although I say this from a white perspective) effectively. The introduction provides a thorough explanation for how this is achieved and the thought processes and considerations that took place in the development of this story. There is a slightly frustrating overlap in the first chapter with a couple of paragraphs re-iterating what has already been explained, but otherwise the book is written clearly and is very easy to read – even if some of the topics are not.
Although ostensibly looking at lives of Black individuals in Victorian Britain, due to the colonial policies that were in place and expanding at the time and the relationship with America, many of the stories have international connections. Some of the stories told are of individuals who only visited our shores, either for a brief time to preach for their abolitionist cause or staying for some time before relocating.
The people who feature in the book offer insight into a wide range of situations. These include life in the asylum, working and middle-class experiences of people in the creative arts and entertainment industry, a few wealthier individuals, and those who promoted anti-slavery and equal rights including a few who escaped (sometimes dramatically) slavery in America. In addition to the individuals whose life story is explored, many other notable individuals are mentioned – sometimes only in passing, and other times with greater details.
Throughout, the context of Victorian social and economic politics is considered. I found it interesting to note that early in the period Black people were more accepted (I’m not saying treated as equal), in comparison towards the end of the period when greater prejudice and hatred were displayed. The part played by working class concerns over (white) working conditions and fair treatment, lashing out to Blacks as a result of the attention and concern (rightly) shown towards slavery and abolition in the 1830s was an interesting observation.
It is clear throughout the book that there are many complex issues, and may contradictory frequently hypocritical views, in Victorian society and politics that affected the Black population. Much as the upper classes looked down on the white working class and the poor (because they didn’t have the gumption to work themselves out of poverty…as if it was ever that easy), they looked down on the Black population as being different. Even as they recognised some talented individuals.
This book provides an insight not just into the life stories and the experiences of the individuals, but also to the wider context and thought processes of the white community they co-habited with.
Britain has been a multi-cultural country for many hundreds of years, and it is good that this history is becoming better understood and more widely available. There is lots to consider, both to better understand our past, and to move forward into a fair and truly equal future.
Black history is a sensitive subject with centuries of cruelty, prejudice and oversight to address. This book does so carefully and (although I say this from a white perspective) effectively. The introduction provides a thorough explanation for how this is achieved and the thought processes and considerations that took place in the development of this story. There is a slightly frustrating overlap in the first chapter with a couple of paragraphs re-iterating what has already been explained, but otherwise the book is written clearly and is very easy to read – even if some of the topics are not.
Although ostensibly looking at lives of Black individuals in Victorian Britain, due to the colonial policies that were in place and expanding at the time and the relationship with America, many of the stories have international connections. Some of the stories told are of individuals who only visited our shores, either for a brief time to preach for their abolitionist cause or staying for some time before relocating.
The people who feature in the book offer insight into a wide range of situations. These include life in the asylum, working and middle-class experiences of people in the creative arts and entertainment industry, a few wealthier individuals, and those who promoted anti-slavery and equal rights including a few who escaped (sometimes dramatically) slavery in America. In addition to the individuals whose life story is explored, many other notable individuals are mentioned – sometimes only in passing, and other times with greater details.
Throughout, the context of Victorian social and economic politics is considered. I found it interesting to note that early in the period Black people were more accepted (I’m not saying treated as equal), in comparison towards the end of the period when greater prejudice and hatred were displayed. The part played by working class concerns over (white) working conditions and fair treatment, lashing out to Blacks as a result of the attention and concern (rightly) shown towards slavery and abolition in the 1830s was an interesting observation.
It is clear throughout the book that there are many complex issues, and may contradictory frequently hypocritical views, in Victorian society and politics that affected the Black population. Much as the upper classes looked down on the white working class and the poor (because they didn’t have the gumption to work themselves out of poverty…as if it was ever that easy), they looked down on the Black population as being different. Even as they recognised some talented individuals.
This book provides an insight not just into the life stories and the experiences of the individuals, but also to the wider context and thought processes of the white community they co-habited with.
Britain has been a multi-cultural country for many hundreds of years, and it is good that this history is becoming better understood and more widely available. There is lots to consider, both to better understand our past, and to move forward into a fair and truly equal future.
October 5, 2022
Many thanks to the authors, Keshia N. Abraham & John Woolf, publishers Duckworth Books LTD for allowing me to read this important book in exchange for my honest review.
"Black Victorians: Hidden in History" gives a powerful insight on the contributions made by Black individuals in Britain the Victorian Era. Contributions to the medical field, fine arts, military, political and religious endeavors. Black men and women thrived in the Victorian Era as aristocrats and of course many struggled in workforce.
This book does not sell the idea that Britain was without systemic racism, yet it is more than just a chronicle of the the effects of racism. It is a well rounded account of Black individuals, who lived, loved, thrived and struggled during the Victorian Era. "Black Victorians" gives us intimate looks at the lives of people like Edward Albert, an "afflicted street sweeper" who tirelessly lived his life making the most of what came his way. We meet people who were adopted into the life of royalty and respect. Yet, the book's burning question is one that burns right through the pages. "Can't I live?" The stories are familiar, stories of trial, stories of triumph, but the anticipation that your right to live freely and happily may always be in jeopardy, that your work will go unnoticed and unnamed.
This book sheds light on some of these lives and gives new breath to the purpose behind them. No longer will they be hidden in history, because where there is light, there can no longer be darkness. These lives and their legacies are now recorded and can be shared and passed on, made to live many lives and plant many seeds.
This book was wonderfully, and respectfully written. Authors Abraham and Woolf's give us a well research account of lives and I would certainly read another installment were there more to come.
I highly recommend this book to anyone, in fact this must read is essential in understanding the complexity of life as a Victorian.
"Black Victorians: Hidden in History" gives a powerful insight on the contributions made by Black individuals in Britain the Victorian Era. Contributions to the medical field, fine arts, military, political and religious endeavors. Black men and women thrived in the Victorian Era as aristocrats and of course many struggled in workforce.
This book does not sell the idea that Britain was without systemic racism, yet it is more than just a chronicle of the the effects of racism. It is a well rounded account of Black individuals, who lived, loved, thrived and struggled during the Victorian Era. "Black Victorians" gives us intimate looks at the lives of people like Edward Albert, an "afflicted street sweeper" who tirelessly lived his life making the most of what came his way. We meet people who were adopted into the life of royalty and respect. Yet, the book's burning question is one that burns right through the pages. "Can't I live?" The stories are familiar, stories of trial, stories of triumph, but the anticipation that your right to live freely and happily may always be in jeopardy, that your work will go unnoticed and unnamed.
This book sheds light on some of these lives and gives new breath to the purpose behind them. No longer will they be hidden in history, because where there is light, there can no longer be darkness. These lives and their legacies are now recorded and can be shared and passed on, made to live many lives and plant many seeds.
This book was wonderfully, and respectfully written. Authors Abraham and Woolf's give us a well research account of lives and I would certainly read another installment were there more to come.
I highly recommend this book to anyone, in fact this must read is essential in understanding the complexity of life as a Victorian.
September 15, 2022
These heros of the past who have been mostly swept under the proverbial carpet - hidden from us, are finally getting to see the light of day. Prejudices were alive and sickeningly well back in the Victorian times as they are even now. I learned so much from these courageously valiant black men and women who persevered against all odds and despite the constant rejection of their personages and talents due to their skin tones. To know so many did push through shows their resilience and determination in so many areas such as in the music world, art, entertainment and even, and especially, in the activism of the abolitionists and anti-slavery advancement movements.
This book has been written by a white man about the black plight but I believe he has credence if you see the extensive bibliography list of references from whence he must have done his research and has been kept accountable by a black collaborater, Dr. Keisha N. Abraham. Additionally, I do not apologize for using the terms 'black' or 'white' either. As you read Black Victorians, you'll understand why.
I found this book to be of great interest and have learned so very much. However, at times I did get bogged down by expoundings although they were needed. The reader just has to be patient and digest the wisdom and understanding while reading. I really was happy to have read this expose and believe all human beings could learn much from these heros such as Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, William Cuffay, Ida B. Wells and so many more.
~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
May 2022
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.
This book has been written by a white man about the black plight but I believe he has credence if you see the extensive bibliography list of references from whence he must have done his research and has been kept accountable by a black collaborater, Dr. Keisha N. Abraham. Additionally, I do not apologize for using the terms 'black' or 'white' either. As you read Black Victorians, you'll understand why.
I found this book to be of great interest and have learned so very much. However, at times I did get bogged down by expoundings although they were needed. The reader just has to be patient and digest the wisdom and understanding while reading. I really was happy to have read this expose and believe all human beings could learn much from these heros such as Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, William Cuffay, Ida B. Wells and so many more.
~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
May 2022
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.
June 8, 2022
My thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book to review. It sets out to address quite why the agency of so many black people has been whitewashed out of the history of an age, which was in fact obsessed with race, as, upon it, rested the ‘moral’ justification for empire. Not just any empire. By 1914 25% of the world’s population and 20% of its land fell under British rule.
I think the book goes some way to succeeding in this endeavour, and, in doing so, describes the lives of a number of hugely fascinating people. Their stories are drawn from many different points of view. There are people on the margins, there are voices of protest, there are black aristocrats, there are black people in the arts, black professionals and there are black leaders of political struggle.
Sometimes I think the book spends too much time supposing what these black people might have thought or felt. Hakim Adi’s new book is better on this aspect because his people are selected for having managed to publish work about their lives, which tells us exactly what they thought and felt.
Also, although the book explicitly sets out to focus on African, Caribbean and African American people, it strikes me as odd, given the wide range of lived lives in the book, to highlight the foundation of the pan African Congress as a sort of culmination of the history of all their struggles.
That said, this is an informative and thought provoking book and I recommend it.
I think the book goes some way to succeeding in this endeavour, and, in doing so, describes the lives of a number of hugely fascinating people. Their stories are drawn from many different points of view. There are people on the margins, there are voices of protest, there are black aristocrats, there are black people in the arts, black professionals and there are black leaders of political struggle.
Sometimes I think the book spends too much time supposing what these black people might have thought or felt. Hakim Adi’s new book is better on this aspect because his people are selected for having managed to publish work about their lives, which tells us exactly what they thought and felt.
Also, although the book explicitly sets out to focus on African, Caribbean and African American people, it strikes me as odd, given the wide range of lived lives in the book, to highlight the foundation of the pan African Congress as a sort of culmination of the history of all their struggles.
That said, this is an informative and thought provoking book and I recommend it.
September 30, 2022
Black Victorians have been overlooked, and forgotten, yet they played an important part in British Victorian history. Filled with intriguing and diverse individuals, this book restores them to history, and it provides an illuminating and fascinating look at how they dealt with terrible situations, including slavery and racism. Black Victorians covers Black people from different classes, and different professions, including the arts. It is not a story of victimhood, but rather one of agency.
This book tells the stories of people from the margins of society, such as Edward Albert, who became a cook, and a pastry chef who sold his own memoir, and William Flinn, who worked on vessels on the high seas and survived for thirty-eight years inside Broadmoor. Then there are those who protested like William Cuffay, who advocated for Chartism and eventually plotted against the Queen. He was transported to Australia.
Other people with fascinating stories include Sarah Forbes Bonetta in whom Queen Victoria took a special interest, the famous actor Ira Aldridge and the abolitionist Sarah Parker Remond. Most of the Black people covered in this book either achieved much in their professions, or fought for their rights against prejudice and discrimination.
I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
This book tells the stories of people from the margins of society, such as Edward Albert, who became a cook, and a pastry chef who sold his own memoir, and William Flinn, who worked on vessels on the high seas and survived for thirty-eight years inside Broadmoor. Then there are those who protested like William Cuffay, who advocated for Chartism and eventually plotted against the Queen. He was transported to Australia.
Other people with fascinating stories include Sarah Forbes Bonetta in whom Queen Victoria took a special interest, the famous actor Ira Aldridge and the abolitionist Sarah Parker Remond. Most of the Black people covered in this book either achieved much in their professions, or fought for their rights against prejudice and discrimination.
I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
September 3, 2022
This was a very interesting, well-written, and clearly carefully researched book. Its focus was to help remind readers that while we may think we know much about history, so much of it has been forgotten, ignored, erased, overlooked, or whitewashed. By dividing "Black Victorians" into different sections and then each chapter introducing us to one particular Black Victorian, then expanding, Abraham and Woolf give the reader a fascinating look into history that weaves together so that at no time do any of the people or events stand alone, They cover abolitionists; artists and musicians; criminals; aristocrats; and clerics and missionaries; then within each biographical chapter explain how Britain and British attitudes or culture might have changed over the century, and how individuals used those cultural beliefs or fought against them to reach their goals.
A book that anyone interested in history would appreciate, this is also a book college courses on decolonization and history should look to as an interesting starting point for many a discussion.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
A book that anyone interested in history would appreciate, this is also a book college courses on decolonization and history should look to as an interesting starting point for many a discussion.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
July 17, 2022
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review. I was interested to read this because of the title - I’ve always been interested in the lesser known parts of history. This book gives us an overview of several Black Victorians, from actors and writers, to slaves/freed, activists, high society, etc., grouped into themes such as politics. At times, I felt the “academic” lens dominated a bit, overshadowing the people it was writing about - I was hoping for a more accessible style which would tell me more about the people themselves, than an academic essay tone which was harder to follow for me personally. That’s why I gave it 3 stars rather than 4.
January 14, 2024
In this meticulously researched book, the authors delve into the archives to uncover the hidden history of Black people in the Victorian era, from the obscure to the prominent, from people many will have heard of, such as the composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, to the much more humble whose lives remain to us as little more than birth or death certificates. Here they are all given a voice. Most seem to have been whitewashed from history, but they are there in the public record and just needed someone’s dedication to bring them to our notice and pay them due tribute. Eminently readable and accessible, although I have to admit occasionally repetitive, this is not only an enlightening read but an important and necessary one, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
August 25, 2022
With thanks to NetGalley, the authors, and the publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
To begin with, this is a fantastically written book that is engaging throughout. Well written, exquisitely researched, and compiled beautifully.
The collaboration between Dr Keisha Abraham and John Woolf is at the forefront and appears to be solidly grounded in respect and deference to her expertise.
It’s a truly thought provoking and well researched history book, with phenomenal readability and intelligent discussion.
I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who has the faintest interest in history, the Victorian era, or the stories of everyday people.
To begin with, this is a fantastically written book that is engaging throughout. Well written, exquisitely researched, and compiled beautifully.
The collaboration between Dr Keisha Abraham and John Woolf is at the forefront and appears to be solidly grounded in respect and deference to her expertise.
It’s a truly thought provoking and well researched history book, with phenomenal readability and intelligent discussion.
I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who has the faintest interest in history, the Victorian era, or the stories of everyday people.
November 8, 2022
This is a rigorously researched book that brings to life the stories of Black Brits across the different parts of society during the Victorian period.
There were parts of the book that were a bit dense - I think it is probably quite hard to balance the academic with the popular appeal - but overall, absolutely fascinating and captivating. It isn't a book to just read and get on to the next thing, as another reviewer said, it should be read with plenty of time and intent. It is an interesting and important book - and definitely one to, at the very least, inform if not integrate into curriculum planning going forward.
There were parts of the book that were a bit dense - I think it is probably quite hard to balance the academic with the popular appeal - but overall, absolutely fascinating and captivating. It isn't a book to just read and get on to the next thing, as another reviewer said, it should be read with plenty of time and intent. It is an interesting and important book - and definitely one to, at the very least, inform if not integrate into curriculum planning going forward.
June 26, 2023
Last October, I attended a presentation by Keshia N Abraham and John Woolf discussing their book "Black Victorians", and I knew this would have to be a must-read.
Black communities have existed in the British Isles since Roman times. Despite this, British history is often silent on the presence of people of African descent. This book uncovers many contributions made by Black people at all levels of society during the Victorian era and who helped to shape the country despite the racism they faced.
An excellent book, well-researched, that I highly recommend to others.
Black communities have existed in the British Isles since Roman times. Despite this, British history is often silent on the presence of people of African descent. This book uncovers many contributions made by Black people at all levels of society during the Victorian era and who helped to shape the country despite the racism they faced.
An excellent book, well-researched, that I highly recommend to others.
April 20, 2025
A book that rightly sheds the light on the role of many black people spanning the Victorian era, whose voices would have been lost without John Woolf and Keshia N. Abraham brilliantly shining a light on the significant role many of these people had in building Victorian Britain. Fascinating, intriguing and telling throughout
March 31, 2023
Absolutely phenomenal book, super interesting to see such amazing archival research of a diverse British past. Completely proves to people who say that British history was not multicultural or diverse that it truly was!
December 29, 2022
Absolutely excellent. In the vein of Kaufmann's Black Tudors - equally well researched and well written - with a large variety of case studies from various groups.
December 23, 2023
"A confident nation can look at its past honestly and sincerely, praising the good, acknowledging the bad and seeking to build a better tomorrow."
October 13, 2024
Wow!
Eye-opening! Educative! Most informative!
Eye-opening! Educative! Most informative!
November 3, 2024
Well-written and engaging - gives a new perspective to this historical period.
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