So many feelings about this work. Each of the essays was well-written, intelligent, thoughtful, researched, and so forth. However, due to the fact that they are all covering the same very narrow subject, many of them had a lot of overlap, where it felt like I was reading the exact same pages in a slightly different hand. This made for slower reading than I would have liked.

That said, there are essays that cover multiple different angles on the subject (of Nat Turner and his history and impact on history and black memory), plus a couple of interviews with some key figures, and as mentioned, they are well researched and insightful. This collection provides what is probably the most comprehensive definitive look at Nat Turner that can ever be produced. I am certain that I could not read anything else and wind up with any clearer, more accurate image of Nat Turner than this collection of essays has provided. His personal narrative (as much as is possible) is recreated here, alongside his, and the few other slave rebellion leaders who are known, impact on history. It is well worth a read.

Also worthy of note, I am appalled that William Styron won the Pulitzer for his racist demeaning white man's portrayal of a weak, indecisive, emasculated "Nat Turner" who comes solely from his own imagination and not history. I'd like to acquire a used copy of it (Styron certainly will get not a penny from me!) along with Ten Black Writers Respond, which will sit nicely next to each other on my shelves. I think it's very sad that he refuses to understand or accept the racist view that he portrayed is his own and not at all connected to Nat Turner, instead simply viewing his detractors as militants and communists. ( )