A plausible man The true story of the escaped slave who inspired Uncle Tom's cabin

A Plausible Man provides an engaging look at the life of John Andrew Jackson, the man who arguably inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe's influential novel Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852). Ashton (English, Clemson Univ.), an expert on slavery and freedom narratives, explores Jackson's challenging and remarkable life, both when he was enslaved and later free, as well as his contributions to the abolitionist movement by superbly and creatively analyzing the few documents he left behind. This probing of scant evidence--a receipt, a fragment of a census record--is noteworthy and provides a useful example for other researchers endeavoring to reveal the lives and accomplishments of those not powerful, rich, or famous. The book excellently situates Jackson's story within the larger social and political context of 19th-century America. Ashton's captivatingly written narrative brings Jackson's experiences to life, encouraging readers to rethink the connections between history and fiction. Through vivid stories and insightful analysis, she showcases Jackson's strength and influence, offering a new perspective on the lasting impact of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Beyond being a detailed historical account, this book underscores the significance of individual stories in shaping our cultural understanding. Ashton reveals and honors Jackson's legacy, prompting readers to consider how his experience continues to resonate in today's discussions about race and identity. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty. --Robert Alan Shaddy, emeritus, Queens College (City University of New York)

A scholarly detective story about a man who would inspire a world-changing book. In December 1850, writes Clemson English professor Ashton, John Andrew Jackson, a formerly enslaved person in South Carolina, spent a night in Maine with Harriet Beecher Stowe. He showed her the scars left by the whippings he had endured, likely told her of the family members who had been sold away from him, and recounted his flight from Charleston to Boston as a shipboard stowaway. He left the next day, having unknowingly provided Stowe the germ from which Uncle Tom's Cabin would grow. He might have become a powerful symbol for the abolitionist cause, but, writes Ashton, Jackson had a talent for alienating fellow travelers: "His is a tale of individual hustle; separate from most established Black and white organizations, he would almost always go it alone." His path would take him to Canada, then to England, where, having decided to "forcefully intervene in the global politics of slavery with nothing more than his witness and testimony," he tried to become known on the lecture circuit while subsisting on work as a whitewasher and rough painter. Perhaps daringly--or perhaps out of desperation, once he'd burned enough bridges--he returned to South Carolina after the war with the intention of creating a Black farming community on the land held by his former enslaver. Ashton sorts diligently through what she memorably calls "obfuscatory nineteenth-century ledger lines," piecing together the life of a man who might have been better known had his former allies not repudiated him. The narrative she unfolds has moments of both tragedy and victory as she capably returns a "canceled" man to history. It's a story worth knowing and makes a solid complement to Ilyon Woo's Master Slave Husband Wife. A capable contribution to the literature of slavery and abolition. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.