BOOK BRIEF

River of Dark Dreams: Slavery and Empire in the Cotton Kingdom

Walter Johnson
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River of Dark Dreams: Slavery and Empire in the Cotton Kingdom

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2013

Book Brief

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Walter Johnson

River of Dark Dreams: Slavery and Empire in the Cotton Kingdom

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2013
Book Details
Pages

560

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Southern United States • 19th Century

Publication Year

2013

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In River of Dark Dreams: Slavery and Empire in the Cotton Kingdom, Walter Johnson examines the antebellum South's cotton economy, emphasizing the entangled lives of enslaved individuals and their enslavers. The narrative explores how economic ambitions and exploitation fueled a violent, oppressive system, deeply affecting the sociopolitical landscape of the United States.

Informative

Dark

Unnerving

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.3

545 ratings

82%

Loved it

12%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Walter Johnson's River of Dark Dreams offers a profound exploration of the economic and moral complexities of slavery in the antebellum South. Critics praise its ambitious analysis and detailed research but note its dense prose may challenge casual readers. Despite this, the book's insights into capitalism and slavery make it a compelling read for those interested in American history.

Who should read this

Who Should Read River of Dark Dreams: Slavery and Empire in the Cotton Kingdom?

Readers of River of Dark Dreams would likely appreciate in-depth historical exploration of slavery's economic and social impact. Similar interests might align with the audiences of The Half Has Never Been Told by Edward E. Baptist and The Empire of Cotton by Sven Beckert. These works suit those intrigued by history, economics, and social justice.

4.3

545 ratings

82%

Loved it

12%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

560

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Southern United States • 19th Century

Publication Year

2013

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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