The Black Bard of North Carolina: George Moses Horton and His Poetry (Chapel Hill Books)

For his humanistic religious verse, his poignant and deeply personal antislavery poems, and, above all, his lifelong enthusiasm for liberty, nature, and the art of poetry, George Moses Horton merits a place of distinction among nineteenth-century African American poets. Enslaved from birth until the close of the Civil War, the self-taught Horton was the first American slave to protest his bondage in published verse and the first black man to publish a book in the South. As a man and as a poet, his achievements were extraordinary. In this volume, Joan Sherman collects sixty-two of Horton's poems. Her comprehensive introduction--combining biography, history, cultural commentary, and critical insight--presents a compelling and detailed picture of this remarkable man's life and art. George Moses Horton (ca. 1797-1883) was born in Northampton County, North Carolina. A slave for sixty-eight years, Horton spent much of his life on a farm near Chapel Hill, and in time he fostered a deep connection with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The author of three books of poetry, Horton was inducted into the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame in May of 1996. For His Humanistic Religious Verse, His Poignant And Deeply Personal Antislavery Poems, His Folk Verse, And, Above All, His Lifelong Enthusiasm For Liberty, Nature, And The Art Of Poetry, George Moses Horton Merits A Place Of Distinction Among Nineteenth-century African American Poets. Enslaved For Sixty-eight Years - From His Birth Until The Close Of The Civil War - He Was The First American Slave To Protest His Bondage In Published Verse, The First Black Man To Publish. A Book In The South, And The Only Slave To Earn A Significant Income Through The Sale Of His Poems. As A Man And As A Poet, Horton's Achievements Were Extraordinary. In This Volume, Joan Sherman Collects Sixty-two Of Horton's Poems. Her Comprehensive Introduction - Which Combines Biography, History, Cultural Commentary, And Critical Insight - Presents A Compelling And Detailed Picture Of This Remarkable Man's Life And Art. Covering A Wide Range Of Poetical Subjects In. Varied Verse Forms, This Collection Is An Eloquent Testament To Horton's Unique Voice. Edited By Joan R. Sherman. Chapel Hill Books. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 47-52) And Index. George Moses Horton was a slave for sixty-eight years, from his birth in about 1797 until the close of the Civil War.