Bury the Chains by Adam Hochschild Buy book: $17.78
Like Hochschild's classic "King Leopold's Ghost", Bury the Chains abounds in atmosphere, high drama, and nuanced portraits of epic heroes and villains. Again Hochschild gives a little-celebrated historical watershed its due at last.
good! This story is compelling. It looks like it will have lots of interesting facts that I haven't known about. Loved the quotes from Alexis de Tocqueville and Seymour Drescher, too.
"To understand how momentous was this beginning, we must picture a
world in which the vast majority of people are prisoners. Most of
them have known no other way of life. They are not free to live or
go where they want. They plant, cultivate, and harvest most of the
earth's major crops. They earn no money from their labor. Their work
often lasts twelve or fourteen hours a day. Many are subject to
cruel whippings or other punishments if they do not work hard
enough. They die young. They are not chained or bound most of the
time, but they are in bondage, part of a global economy based on
forced labor. Such a world would, of course, be unthinkable today."
BUT I beg to differ. We still live in a world with slavery, though details HAVE changed. Children today do forced labor around the world, and women's position in many societies is bondage of a sort. Religious conversion is the flashpoint of communal riots as untouchables try to sidestep the caste system. Still, the author's presentation of something powerful unleased back then is gripping.
I'm hooked after just one excerpt...can't wait to read more. Powerful writing in just the first chapter. Reading about history, and an occurence like this makes me scared to think about what is happening now that is going to look so ridiculous in 200 years...or now.
I have always loved reading and learning new things, especialy in history. Just reading what I have recieved so far, I can tell that it will be a very good book and thus look forward to reading the rest of the book. I believe that history lovers will love and enjoy this book.
I am trying so hard to get into this story. I think its an important legacy...but its just not working for me. I think that some of the
"protesters mentality" has been lost in the translation. I don't know. The passion is not there- just the facts.
I'd like to see more meat and description. It started with a good exposition, but now it isn't clear where it's trying to go. I'm hoping it picks up a bit.
for those interested in history and especially the slave trade. From the excerpts it appears this book attempts to explore and express the complexities of human nature in response to inhuman ideals and conditions. Yes, I am interested in reading the entire book.
