Harriet, The Moses of Her People

Harriet Tubman, born Araminta Ross (ca. 1820–1913), escaped slavery to become a leader in the abolitionist cause and personally led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom through the network of the Underground Railroad. Sarah H. Bradford’s second biography of Tubman, based on Harriet’s accounts as relayed to the author, affords new insights into her life and work. Bradford brings Tubman’s achievements into closer focus: “After her almost superhuman efforts in making her own escape from slavery, and then returning to the South nineteen times, and bringing away with her over three hundred fugitives, she was sent … to the South at the beginning of the War, to act as spy and scout for our armies, and … as hospital nurse when needed.”