American Railroads

In this New York Times bestseller, Stephen Ambrose brings to life the story of the building of the transcontinental railroad, from the men who financed it to the engineers and surveyors who risked their lives to the workers who signed on for the dangerous job. Nothing Like It in the World gives...

In this social history of the impact of railroads on American life, H. Roger Grant concentrates on the railroad's "golden age," 1830-1930. To capture the essence of the nation's railroad experience, Grant explores four fundamental topics - trains and travel, train stations, railroads and community life, and the legacy of railroading in America. Grant recalls the lasting memories left by train travel, both of luxurious Pullman cars and the grit and grind of coal-powered locals.

Freedom has a price—and Eve is about to pay it. Mississippi, 1860. Beneath the blistering heat of the cotton fields, Eve dreams of escape. When a brutal overseer’s cruelty pushes her past the breaking point, she flees into the night with only faith—and fear—as companions. On the run, Eve finds an unlikely ally in Nate, a runaway determined to reach freedom across the Detroit River. Guided by whispers of the Underground Railroad, they travel north through hidden trails and Quaker safe houses. But deep in Indiana, they encounter Clem, a terrified teenage boy newly escaped—a meeting ...

The American Revolution did not end in 1783 with the Treaty of Paris. Through the Revolutionary War, the fight leading to the adoption of the U.S. Constitution, and then the creation of the Republic during the Washington Presidency, this was one continuing Revolution. In every phase, for 21 years, it was George Washington who led and steered this revolution. The vision, the intention, the fight, was not simply Independence - separation from Britain - but the creation of a Republic dedicated to upward human progress. Washington's battles with Jefferson and Madison were not "policy ...

The focus of this selection concerns both the Federal and Confederate efforts to disable or maintain the railroads within the active theaters of the war. Real railroads of iron and steam and ribbons of steel vanishing into the horizon quickly became a strategic objective of both armies in the Civil War. Raiders and protectors were deployed both North and South. The damage inflicted on roadways and rolling stock was not always easy to accomplish.

The Full Story of African American History — All in One Place Most history books only tell part of the story. They might teach a little about slavery, a few famous names, or the Civil Rights Movement. But there’s so much more to know. This book brings it all together. It tells the full story of African American history — from early inventions and everyday heroes to powerful leaders and artists who helped shape the country. It shows how African Americans have always been part of building, changing, and inspiring the world around them. This is not just about one time in history. It’s ...

African American History 3-in-1: An Unforgettable Journey of Resilience, Resistance, and Triumph From the inhuman horrors of the Atlantic Slave Trade to the secret heroism of the Underground Railroad, and through the inspiring triumphs of African American pioneers, this book delivers a sweeping, full-scope narrative that will move, challenge, and uplift you. Across three enthralling volumes, you’ll witness the heartbreak, the courage, and the legacy of a people who changed the course of history. Three manuscripts in one book: African American History: An Enthralling Overview of Major ...

In a grand-scale narrative history, the bestselling author of two finalists for the Pulitzer Prize now captures the decades when capitalism was at its most unbridled and a few breathtakingly wealthy businessmen utterly transformed America from an agrarian economy to a world power. The years...

Ruth’s beau died - simply because he was a slave.She is determined to help other enslaved people as she assists with the Underground Railroad. Recently freed and illiterate, Ruth is hired to bake mouth-watering delicious bread in a Philadelphia bakery. Her boss Joseph is kind, handsome, and determined to put an end to slavery. She feels emotionally connected to him as they work together for a common cause. His presence is like a fresh splash of spring rain on her parched soul. However, Joseph has plans. He’s determined to make some major changes in his life. He desperately wants to ...

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER PULITZER PRIZE WINNER NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER "An American masterpiece" (NPR) that chronicles a young slave's adventures as she makes a desperate bid for freedom in the antebellum South. One of The New York Times’s 10 Best Books of the 21st Century...

Introducing "American History: The Legends that Shaped the USA" a riveting exploration of the rich and fascinating early history of the United States. This book takes you on a journey through the remarkable stories of American legends, from the birth of the country, through Westward expansion, wars, and political scandals. It delves into the lives of heroes, leaders, and presidents who played pivotal roles in shaping America's history, making it the great country it is today. Are you interested in exploring the rich and fascinating early history of the United States? This book takes you on ...

When the guns fell silent in 1865, the South entered a different kind of war — the hard peace. Not the one argued in Congress, but the one lived in kitchens, fields, workshops, schoolrooms, and in the shadow of ruined rail lines, empty markets, and bankrupt towns struggling to rise again. In these pages, you’ll confront questions history books rarely ask: How did ordinary people survive violence, instability, and political conflict when every familiar structure had collapsed? How did freed people, women, veterans, and small entrepreneurs build new institutions with almost no resources? ...

They ran 1,000 miles to freedom and changed the country forever. The Vanishing Woman tells the true story of Ellen Craft, who escaped from slavery in 1848 by posing as a white man, while her husband William pretended to be her slave. They took trains and steamboats north, escaping in plain view. When other passengers looked at her, they saw only an ailing planter from Georgia. Ellen Craft had vanished. Ellen’s mother was a slave, but her father was her master, and she had skin as white as his. This enabled her to pose as a white man in one of the boldest escapes in American history. ...

“I can't die but once!” This was the rallying cry of Harriet Tubman, the most famous conductor in the history of the Underground Railroad. Her name is legendary, but many don’t know Harriet’s full story. The Tubman Train starts with her dramatic early years, including the pivotal day when she began having visions from God—visions of flying North. The story follows Harriet through her own escape in 1849 and the beginning of her work as the “She-Moses,” culminating in the dramatic attempt to rescue her brothers. The Tubman Train is the first novel to explore the complicated ...

'I couldn't put it down. I'll never stop thinking about it' Ann Patchett 'One hell of a novel about a good woman on the run with her beautiful boy' Stephen King FEAR KEEPS THEM RUNNING. HOPE KEEPS THEM ALIVE. Vivid, visceral, utterly compelling, AMERICAN DIRT is the first novel to explore the...

One girl. One journey. A fight for freedom against impossible odds. Virginia, 1858. Torn from one plantation to the next, young Venus endures cruelty at every turn — yet discovers glimmers of unexpected kindness and courage. As she struggles to survive in a world ruled by greed and violence, her path collides with fellow slaves yearning for freedom and abolitionists willing to risk their lives along the Underground Railroad. With every step, Venus must choose between fear and defiance, despair and hope. Her choices will shape not only her future, but the lives of all who walk beside her. ...

Freedom was only one crossing away. As winter tightens its grip near the Canadian border, Nate, Eve, and fourteen-year-old Clem are running on exhaustion, faith, and sheer will. They have survived slave hunters, betrayal, hunger, and the long road north. Now, with the river ahead and patrols closing in, the final miles are the most dangerous of all. Every choice carries a cost. Clem must decide what freedom truly means. Nate and Eve are forced to confront the limits of courage, sacrifice, and love when no safe path remains, and survival may demand the unthinkable. Written in the tradition ...

In 1869, when the final spike was driven into the Transcontinental Railroad, few were prepared for its seismic aftershocks. Once a hodgepodge of short, squabbling lines, America’s railways soon exploded into a titanic industry helmed by a pageant of speculators, crooks, and visionaries. The...

The first book to explore the historical role and residual impact of the Green Book, a travel guide for Black motorists. 

The fast-paced and gripping true account of the extraordinary construction and spectacular demise of the Key West Railroad—one of the greatest engineering feats ever undertaken, destroyed in one fell swoop by the strongest storm ever to hit U.S. shores. In 1904, the brilliant and driven...