The Great Abolitionist: Charles Sumner and the Fight for a More Perfect Union

Stephen Puleo

Apr 2024 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Jonathan Yen

About this audiobook

In the tempestuous mid-nineteenth century, as slavery consumed Congressional debate and America careened toward civil war and split apart-when the very future of the nation hung in the balance-Charles Sumner's voice rang strongest, bravest, and most unwavering. Where others preached compromise and moderation, he denounced slavery's evils to all who would listen and demanded that it be wiped out of existence. Before and during the Civil War, at great personal sacrifice, Sumner was the conscience of the North and the most influential politician fighting for abolition. Through the force of his words and his will, he moved America toward the twin goals of abolitionism and equal rights, which he fought for literally until the day he died. He laid the cornerstone arguments that civil rights advocates would build upon over the next century as the country strove to achieve equality among the races. The Great Abolitionist is the first major biography of Charles Sumner to be published in over fifty years. Acclaimed historian Stephen Puleo relates the story of one of the most influential non-presidents in American history with evocative and accessible prose, transporting listeners back to an era when our leaders exhibited true courage and authenticity in the face of unprecedented challenges.

About the author

Stephen Puleo is the author of several books, including Dark Tide, Due to Enemy Action, and The Caning. Formerly an award-winning newspaper reporter, he is a contributor to American History magazine, among other publications.

Jonathan Yen was inspired by the Golden Age of Radio, and he's carried that inspiration through to commercial work, voice acting, and stage productions. From vintage Howard Fast science fiction to naturalist Paul Rosolie's true adventures in the Amazon, Jonathan loves to tell a good story.