Inhuman Bondage

The Rise and Fall of Slavery in the New World

By: David Brion Davis

Narrated by: Raymond Todd

In Inhuman Bondage, David Brion Davis sums up a lifetime of insight, beginning with the dramatic Amistad case. He looks at slavery in the American South, describing black slaveholding planters; the rise of the Cotton Kingdom; the daily life of ordinary slaves; the highly destructive internal long-distance slave trade; the sexual exploitation of slaves; the emergence of an African-American culture; and much more. A definitive history by a writer deeply immersed in the subject, Inhuman Bondage links together the profits of slavery, the pain of the enslaved, and the legacy of racism.

David Brion Davis is recognized as the leading authority on slavery in the Western world. His books have won such awards as the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award.

©2006 David Brion Davis (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"A tour de force....explaining what has made slavery's consequences so much a part of contemporary American culture and politics." (New York Times Book Review)
"The broader perspective on American slavery, its social and economic impact on the growth of the U.S., forces readers to face the contradictions between our democratic ideals and economic impulses." (Booklist)
"Davis...succeeds heroically in wrestling a vast amount of material from diverse cultures. The result is a sinewy book that combines erudition and everyday detail into a gripping, often surprising, narrative." (Wall Street Journal)

Enlightening story. Terrible narrator.

David Brion Davis' book is highly enlightening, especially regarding how the history of American slavery fits into the history of slavery of the entire western hemisphere, and the world. The book begins somewhat slowly and dryly, but the book picks up speed rapidly as it piles on tons of fascinating information about how slavery flourished, and ultimately was abolished.

I found the narrator terrible. He has a sing-song method of speaking with his voice rising at the beginning of a sentence and falling at the end. After a while, it drove me somewhat crazy, but I persisted due to the majesty of Mr. Davis' work. The book deserves to be read widely, but it would be great if a better narrator could be found.

A History That I Learned Nowhere Else

What did you love best about Inhuman Bondage?

This book taught me more about the history of slavery than I have learned in a lifetime. It's a fascinating story, with perspective about the story of slavery that I thoroughly enjoyed learning. Slavery has been interwoven in the human experience for thousands of years, but the evolution and development of race slavery was a special case. This book is one of the best and most interesting history books that I read or listened to.

What about Raymond Todd’s performance did you like?

Todd has a great reading voice. I enjoyed listening to him.

All you didn't know

An excellent explanation of the origins of slavery, the progress that has been made. It eludes to what remains to be addressed and come to terms with the legacy of that terrible institution.

A deep and broad assessment of American slavery

The scope and detail are impressive. The narrator’s seesaw intonation grates. Definitely worth a listen.

Inhumane Bondage

Great book for a cursory glance at the overall history of bondage/slavery. I feel strongly that a book concerning slavery has to bear responsibility on the perpetrators. It cannot and must not be presented as historical facts. I feel strongly that some will read this work and not be moved by the words within - with the understanding that some people will not be moved.