The Sacred Cause

Rezensionen / Stimmen

"This is the first comprehensive history of Brazilian abolitionism that underscores Afro-Brazilians' central role in achieving emancipation. Based on an impressive array of archival sources and new information, Needell's book explains in detail why Brazil was the last country to abolish slavery in the Americas and how, unlike in the United States, emancipation did not provoke a Civil War."-Ana Lucia Araujo, Howard University "Needell offers a compelling reappraisal of the political drama surrounding the abolition of slavery in Brazil, placing the dance between formal institutions and popular mobilization at the story's center.This comprehensive analysis of Afro-Brazilians' critical role in the eventual victory of abolitionism, capping decades of painstaking archival work, should become the new standard for the field."-Zephyr Frank, Stanford University This excellent study supplies a fresh and timely account of events that still challenge us."-Robin Blackburn, Hispanic American Historical Review "Beyond offering vital information about what happened, this work is valuable for its analysis, which links a traditional narrative of high politics in the late Empire of Brazil with an examination of how popular forces, particularly Afro-Brazilian political mobilization, factored into the history....Highly recommended."-J. M. Rosenthal, CHOICE