OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
From Frederick Douglass' Monthly.
"Though Mr. Brown's book may stand alone upon its own merits, and stand strong, yet while reading its interesting pages,—abounding in fact and argument, replete with eloquence, logic, and learning,—clothed with simple yet eloquent language, it is hard to repress the inquiry, Whence has this man this knowledge? He seems to have read and remembered nearly every thing which has been written or said respecting the ability of the negro, and has condensed and arranged the whole into an admirable argument, calculated both to interest and convince."
From the Liberator.
"Rapid Sale.—We are informed that the first edition of 'The Black Man,' the new work by Wm. Wells Brown, has been sold, and a second is to be published in a few days. Such rapid sale of a book devoted entirely to an exhibition of the genius, the talent, and the heroism of the hated Negro, and advocating his elevation and equality, shows that a great change has come over the minds of the American people, and that justice to a long injured class is not far off. This work has done good service among those who are impregnated with the idea that the blacks were created for nothing but slaves. The new edition will be revised and enlarged, and will contain an original sketch of the heroic and daring charge of the First Louisiana Regiment at Port Hudson. The price of the book will remain the same—$1.00."
From the New York Anti-Slavery Standard.
"In 'The Black Man,' Mr. Brown gives us authentic and well written sketches of more than fifty colored men and women, of the past and present time, who, by their talents, attainments, and earnest devotion to the welfare of their race, have made themselves more or less eminent, and whose lives and labors afford the best possible illustration of the intellectual and moral capacity of the Negro, and the best possible answer to those who make his alleged inferiority an excuse for his enslavement."
From the New York Herald of Progress.
"Mr. Brown has given us an interesting work. The subjects of the biographies are well chosen to exhibit the versatility and range of the genius of the African race. Science and Philosophy, Literature and the Arts, are shown to be richly indebted to it. Mr. Brown's book is an incontestable argument."
From the Boston Transcript.
"The Black Man: His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements.—This is the title of a new book by Wm. Wells Brown, the well-known lecturer and able advocate of his race. The work comprises fifty-three biographical sketches of persons of pure or mixed African descent who, in modern times, have been representative men and women, besides reference to many illustrious names among the ancients. This is the best account of the ability of the Negro ever put in print. The genius of the race is well brought out."
From Zion's Herald, of Boston.
"This is just the book for the crisis. We would that every pro-slavery man in the country would read it."
From Hon. Gerrit Smith.
"Peterboro', December, 1862.
"Wm. Wells Brown. My dear Sir: I am glad that you have written such a book. It will do great good. Send me five dollars' worth of it. Heaven bless you.
Your friend, Gerritt Smith."
From Lewis Tappan, Esq.
Lewis Tappan, in his Cooper Institute Speech, on the 5th of January, 1863, said: "This is just the book for the hour; it will do more for the colored man's elevation than any work yet published."
