Janet Sharp Hermann

Hermann deserves credit for unearthing the story of Davis Bend, for which as far as I can tell this is the only comprehensive source. The history of this plantation is absolutely compelling, and it's told efficiently. Benjamin Montgomery in particular jumps out as a truly great character, and one I felt I came to know very well by the end of the book.

That said, Hermann seems a bit too enraptured with her most impressive subject; the book could just as well be a biography of Benjamin, with smaller sections dedicated to his former master, Joseph Davis (yes, that Davis), and his children, especially his son Isaiah. If you want to understand anyone not related to the Davises or Montgomerys, this is not your book. In addition, the history of the actual plantation often feels muddled; often it's hard to tell why some years were better than others, and Hermann's tone changes greatly with little warning. Small contradictions, dull writing, and unclear focuses mar an otherwise very informative book. Still definitely recommended if you're interested in the specific subject.… (plus d'informations)

Life is stranger and more interesting than fiction. This excellent account brings to life the ups and downs of a Mississippi plantation, first owned by the twenty years older brother of Jefferson Davis, Joseph Davis, and later by an enterprising family of freed slaves by the name of Montgomery. In his management of his plantation, Joseph Davis was guided by both paternalistic and modern Theory Y ideas. He correctly noticed that healthy and content men work better than impoverished and sick ones. Thus, he provided his slaves with good basic infrastructure, food and healthcare. Furthermore, he tried to keep out of his slaves' quarrels. He established a slave jury system that protected slaves from the caprices of overseers (triggering a high fluctuation of those that could not accept the uppity slaves). It was still a slave system: When Ben Montgomery, the slave who would become the plantation's new owner, fled and was re-captured, Davis both punished him and reasoned with him. Montgomery learned to live within the system, managing the plantation store.

The Civil War freed the slaves and removed the plantation out of the hands of the Davis brothers. Davis was not a popular name in the early reconstruction period. Thus, they were quite willing to rely on Ben Montgomery's entrepreneurial spirit. He quite competently outmanoeuvred carpetbaggers and the freedman's bureau, relying on the Davis' network. Thus the former slave and his former master worked together against liberators and intruders. Davis sold the plantation to Montgomery for a rather steep annual payment, which proved to be the downfall of the experiment. The fickle nature of agriculture requires a large cash reserve to sustain a plantation in lean years. Unfortunately, the sons of Montgomery used the free cash-flow during the good years to expand into other businesses. When the downturn came during the mid-1870s, they lacked reserves to keep the plantation and keep the black community together. The plantation reverted to the Davis heirs.

The sons of Ben Montgomery tried again and established a black community in Mound Bayou. Smaller and less exposed to the cyclical cotton business, this community survived for a quarter of a century. The way to fortunes lay not in agriculture. Many of the young migrated to the big cities. One son, Isahiah Montgomery, together with a business partner, became the new patriarch of Mound Bayou. A blot on his record was his selling out black voting rights for minor political posts. As a leader of a segregated black community, he both advanced their economic independence and restricted their political rights. Mississippi still is America's least developed, doomed state. Not a good place for utopia.

Overall, the book is a true gem that works both as a family biography, a business history and a comparative history of the political and business climate during the 19th century. Highly recommended.… (plus d'informations)