63 pages • 2 hours read
Marcus RedikerThe Slave Ship: A Human History
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2007A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In The Slave Ship, Marcus Rediker explores the horrifying conditions endured by individuals on slave ships between 1700 and 1807, detailing the cramped and squalid environments, severe punishment, disease, and rampant abuse inflicted upon captives. Rediker examines the dynamics between captains, crews, and slaves, emphasizing systemic brutality and the limited resistance of the enslaved. The book includes sensitive content addressing sexual assault, extreme violence, and human suffering.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Marcus Rediker's The Slave Ship is lauded for its meticulous research and vivid portrayal of the horrors aboard slave ships, bringing to light the inhumanity of the transatlantic slave trade. Critics praise its compelling narrative and historical depth. Some, however, find its graphic descriptions overwhelming and its pace uneven, detracting from the overall impact.
Who Should Read The Slave Ship?
A reader who would enjoy The Slave Ship by Marcus Rediker is keen on understanding human history, particularly the dark era of the transatlantic slave trade. They likely appreciate narratives that combine meticulous scholarship with vivid storytelling, akin to Howard Zinn’s A People's History of the United States.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
1290L