
Souls for Sale
Two German Redemptioners Come to Revolutionary America
Pennsylvania State University Press
Published on 27. September 2006
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-0-271-02881-1 (ISBN)
Description
In 1773, John Frederick Whitehead and Johann Carl Buettner, two adolescent Germans, were placed on board the same ship headed to colonial America. With few options in Germany, each had been recruited by the labor contractors known popularly as soulsellers-men who traded in human cargo. On arrival in America they were sold to different masters, and, years later, each wrote a memoir of his experiences. These two autobiographies are valuable historical records of immigrant attitudes, perceptions, and goals. Despite their shared voyage to America and similar condition as servants, their backgrounds and personalities differed. Their divergent interpretations of their experiences provide rich firsthand insights into the transatlantic migration process, work and opportunity in colonial America, and the fates of former bound servants.
Souls for Sale presents these parallel accounts-Whitehead's published for the first time-to illustrate the condition of German redemptioners and to examine the religious, economic, familial, and literary contexts that shaped their memoirs. The editors provide helpful introductions to the works as well as notes to guide the reader.
Souls for Sale presents these parallel accounts-Whitehead's published for the first time-to illustrate the condition of German redemptioners and to examine the religious, economic, familial, and literary contexts that shaped their memoirs. The editors provide helpful introductions to the works as well as notes to guide the reader.
Reviews / Votes
"This volume will not only serve scholars of early American history and culture as key source material in the interpretation of the immigrant experience, but it should become assigned reading for American history or literature courses from the survey course up."-Patrick M. Erben Eighteenth-Century Intelligencer
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Pennsylvania
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Illustrations
1 Illustrations; 1 Maps; 4 Halftones, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
567 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-271-02881-1 (9780271028811)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Susan E. Klepp is Professor of History at Temple University and Affiliated Professor of Women's Studies and African American Studies.
Farley Grubb is Professor of Economics and History at the University of Delaware.
Anne Pfaelzer de Ortiz is an independent researcher and freelance writer.
Farley Grubb is Professor of Economics and History at the University of Delaware.
Anne Pfaelzer de Ortiz is an independent researcher and freelance writer.
Editor
Professor of History, Temple University
Professor of Economics at the University of Delaware
Content
Contents
Preface
List of Illustrations and Maps
General Introduction: German Immigration to Early America
Part I: John Frederick Whitehead
1. Introduction: Understanding the World of John Frederick Whitehead
2. The Life of John Frederick Whitehead Containing His Travels and Chief Adventures
Part II: Johann Carl Buettner
3. Introduction: On the Trail of Johann Carl Buettner
4. Narrative of Johann Carl Buettner in the American Revolution
References
Index
Preface
List of Illustrations and Maps
General Introduction: German Immigration to Early America
Part I: John Frederick Whitehead
1. Introduction: Understanding the World of John Frederick Whitehead
2. The Life of John Frederick Whitehead Containing His Travels and Chief Adventures
Part II: Johann Carl Buettner
3. Introduction: On the Trail of Johann Carl Buettner
4. Narrative of Johann Carl Buettner in the American Revolution
References
Index