Book description
Lost on the other side of the world since 1855, the story of John Swanson Jacobs finally returns to America. For one hundred and sixty-nine years, a first-person slave narrative written by John Swanson Jacobs--brother of Harriet Jacobs--was buried in a pile of newspapers in Australia. Jacobs's long-lost narrative, The United States Governed by Six Hundred Thousand Despots, is a startling and revolutionary discovery. A document like this--written by an ex-slave and ex-American, in language charged with all that can be said about America outside America, untampered with and unedited by white abolitionists--has never been seen before. A radical abolitionist, sailor, and miner, John Jacobs has a life story that is as global as it is American. Born into slavery, by 1855, he had fled both the South and the United States altogether, becoming a stateless citizen of the world and its waters. That year, he published his life story in an Australian newspaper, far from American power and its threats. Unsentimental and unapologetic, Jacobs radically denounced slavery and the state, calling out politicians and slaveowners by their names, critiquing America's founding documents, and indicting all citizens who maintained the racist and intolerable status quo. Reproduced in full, this narrative--which entwines with that of his sister and with the life of their friend Frederick Douglass--here opens new horizons for how we understand slavery, race, and migration, and all that they entailed in nineteenth-century America and the world at large. The second half of the book contains a full-length, nine-generation biography of Jacobs and his family by literary historian Jonathan Schroeder. This new guide to the world of John Jacobs will transform our sense of it--and of the forces and prejudices built into the American project. To truly reckon with the lives of John Jacobs is to see with new clarity that in 1776, America embarked on two experiments at once: one in democracy, the other in tyranny.
About the Author
John Swanson Jacobs was an abolitionist, miner, sailor, and citizen of the world. Jonathan D. S. Schroeder is a literary historian and lecturer at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Swedish Pixie
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FLAK Angel
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IceDog
ListenBook's user-friendly interface and intuitive controls make it a joy to navigate through my audiobooks. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch integration ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks wherever I am. I love that ListenBook offers both basic and advanced features, catering to all types of users. No need for file conversion is a game-changer. Love using ListenBook on my iPhone. Auto-rewind feature is very useful. Excellent app!
Easy Street
The 'Explore' feature has introduced me to authors I might never have discovered otherwise. This app has turned audiobook listening into a daily ritual for me. The app is perfect for bedtime listening. The sleep timer is a must-have.
Trick Baron
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a fun and unique feature I can't get enough of. ListenBook has become my trusted companion for literary adventures. The app's features are exceptional.
Twix Bond
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Burst Nibbler
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Candy Butcher
I'd love to see more classic titles, but the current selection is already fantastic. ListenBook's dedication to providing an excellent user experience sets a new standard in audiobook apps.
Bitmap
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Dr. Cocktail
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RiddleRover
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Proper
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LoreLoomer
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Daffy Neo
ListenBook's controls for looping and shuffling playback have made studying and revisiting content a breeze. Adjusting playback speed has transformed the way I consume audiobooks. I can tailor the pacing to match my learning style and preferences. Looping playback of a single track helps me focus and absorb complex content.
Sloth
Revolutionizing the way I enjoy stories β this app's seamless playback and intuitive controls make it a must-have for every book enthusiast. π±π§ ListenBook's dedication to user convenience is evident in the drag-and-drop download feature from web browsers.
Pocket Muzzie
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Santa's Little Helper
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Mirage
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience