Synopses & Reviews
It's 1863. Harriet Tubman is facing one of the biggest-- and most dangerous-- challenges of her life. She has survived her master's lash, escaped from slavery, and risked her life countless times to lead runaway slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad. Now she has a new role-- that of Union spy The outcome of a secret night raid deep into Confederate territory depends on the accuracy of the intelligence she and other black spies have gathered. Success will mean freedom for hundreds of slaves. Failure will mean death by hanging.
You are about to enter the undercover world of African-American spies-- enslaved and free-- risking everything in the name of freedom. How were the Underground Railroad and slave songs used to pass secret messages? What were contrabands and Black Dispatches? What did Harriet have in common with the Secret Six and a maidservant in the home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis? You'll discover these answers and more as the action unfolds.
Thomas B. Allen, author of the award-winning George Washington, Spymaster, has sifted through military and intelligence archives, diaries, and little-known memoirs from ex-slaves to bring to light new facts about the role Harriet and other black spies played in helping the Union win the war.
This detailed account combined with powerful archival images supplemented with woodcuts by Carla Bauer, maps, a time line, footnotes, and extensive quote sources make this incredibly detailed account an excellent resource for report writing as well as an exciting true-life adventure.
Synopsis
Thomas B. Allens follow-up to the multi-award-winning
George Washington, Spymaster is now available in paperback. This compelling biography tells the amazing tale of Harriet Tubman using details uncovered from military and intelligence archives, diaries and little-known memoirs from ex-slaves. In a compelling narrative, surprising new facts about Harriets story are brought to light: readers discover that the ex-slave who led hundreds to freedom along the Underground Railroad was also a spy for the Union Army!
Harriet Tubman, Secret Agent brings readers deep into the undercover world of African-American spiesenslaved and liberatedrisking everything in the name of freedom. How were the Underground Railroad and slave songs used to pass secret messages? What were "contrabands" and "black dispatches?" What did Harriet share with the Secret Six and a maidservant in the home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis? The answers are revealed as historys irresistible plot unfolds.
This detailed account of one of Americas most fascinating figures provides an authoritative source for paper writers and research students. Thomas B. Allens narrative is augmented with attractive woodcuts by Carla Bauer, archival photographs, artwork, and maps. The time line of events, references to Web sites, footnotes with extensive source listings, and comprehensive index make Allens biography an invaluable addition to every public and school library.
About the Author
Thomas B. Allen is the author of the award-winning book,
George Washington, Spymaster: How the Americans Outspied the British and Won the Revolutionary War. He is the co-author with Norman Polmar of
Spy Book: The Encyclopedia of Espionage; Code-name Downfall; and
Merchants of Treason, a report on modern espionage. He is also the co-author, with Paul Dickson, of
The Bonus Army. Tom Allen lives in Bethesda, Maryland. You can visit him on the Web at www.tballen.com.
Carla Bauer is a woodcut illustrator whose work has been exhibited in the National Academy of Design. She lives in New York City.
From the Hardcover edition.