Introduction
“The Fires of Jubilee” by Stephen B. Oates is an accurate, reliable source of Nat Turner’s biography regarding specific historical fragments – the Civil War and the Slave Rebellion. This text is one of the best examples of how this historian can be savvy on this topic. “The Fires of Jubilee” is a book that is a thorough synthesis of primary sources regarding Nat Turner and his participation in the slave rebellion.
Analysis
The author argues that the concept of a contented enslaved person and a kind enslaver is a myth, fiction, and “fantastic imagination.” Hence, the bloody slave rebellion in the 19th century was one of the most significant events as an inevitable consequence and natural development of civilization. In particular, Oates focuses on such an influential historical figure as Nat Turner as an example of bravery, courage, and perseverance in the struggle for justice. Thus, according to the student, the writer tries to contribute to the understanding of historical phenomena based on a “dramatic” narrative framed by accuracy, objectivity, and sympathy for the oppressed citizens of the country.
Stephen B. Oates was an American Civil War historian and biographer of the most prominent personalities. He was born in Pampa, Texas, on January 5, 1936, obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas, and later engaged in teaching. In his works, Oates most vividly revealed the personalities of John Brown, Nat Turner, Lincoln, and Dr. King, appealing to the problems of slavery and race (Seelye 1). Furthermore, it is essential to note that Stephen B. Oates was a qualified specialist in writing the book, with a high-quality education and many years of experience in research and teaching history. Consequently, the book’s purpose was to shed light on the most vital details regarding such an event of the slave uprising on American land, considering it from different sides and angles. Moreover, the author places particular emphasis on Nat Turner’s life, conducting research to refute the negative scholarship on Turner.
One should recognize that the layout has a consistent, logical, and strict structure, organically fitting into the essence of the narrative. Therefore, Oates follows the “traditional” approach in the genre, describing a prologue, the central part of the event, in 4 parts, concluding with an epilogue (Oates 7). In addition, the Confessions of Nat Turner by Thomas R. Gray is one of the primary sources of information on which the historian relies. Specifically, the influence of this source can be found in topics describing Turner’s youth, his views on the current picture of reality, and his legacy. To some extent, the author relied solely on this primary source regarding their authenticity and reliability in interpreting knowledge about the great personality. For example, it could be an analysis of an interview with Turner, who could begin his story with the earliest memories and end with events related to the struggle for freedom.
In general, “The Fires of Jubilee” can be characterized as an effective book in terms of a competent and correct explanation of the slave uprising from the words of an eyewitness. Indeed, this aspect makes the most significant impression, in a certain sense involving a reader in the essence of the event, to see it “from the inside.” Moreover, this book explains the significance of religion in Africa based on meetings with Nat Turner by telling about religious experiences with an emphasis on condemning the moral conflict between the doctrine of the Christian Church. One of the reviewers claims that “the Fires of Jubilee” is a reliable historical fragment; Oates’ book is “accurate, lucid, restrained, sympathetic, and imaginative” (McColley 360). The book correlates with similar books on this topic within the framework of investigating primary sources involved in a particular event.
Based on the student’s opinion, the book fits perfectly into the class, as it gives a deeper understanding of the events of the past and the opportunity to evaluate in detail the actions and deeds of ancestors in the struggle for equality and justice. Indeed, “the Fires of Jubilee” improves the understanding of history since it reveals the peculiarities of the struggle for freedom from the leader’s words, describing the actual, non-fictional reality. According to Oates (7), “Net Turner reminds us that oppression is a kind of violence which pays in coins of its own minting.” This is one of the quotes that seemed striking to the student since it explains to the most evident extent the unshakable aspects of human relationships established on the principle of “reap what you sow.” Generally, this story is remembered due to the “live narrative, “not limited to dry facts. Hence, Nat Turner and his actions have left a deep mark on American history as a hope for a better future, for which people must actively fight.
Conclusion
“The Fires of Jubilee” is a voluminous, informative narrative about Nat Turner and his contribution to upholding the rights of blacks. Additionally, Oates is a highly qualified specialist; his work is a valuable resource for in-depth analysis and historical research. Noteworthy, this book makes it possible to understand in more detail one of the main events of American history through the eyes of the “frontiersperson.”
Works Cited
McColley, Robert. “The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner’s Fierce Rebellion (Review).” Civil War History, vol. 21, no. 4, 1975, pp. 359-360. Web.
Oates, Stephen B. The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner’s Fierce Rebellion. HarperCollins, 2009.
Seelye, Katharine Q. “Stephen B. Oates, Civil War Historian, Dies at 85.” The New York Times, 2021. Web.