"My Name Is Not Tom": The Life of the Reverend Josiah Henson

by Susan Cooke Soderberg

Overview

The first biography to rescue the true story of Josiah Henson, restoring to history his role in the Underground Railroad

Josiah Henson led a fascinating life—from the plantation fields of Maryland to the Georgetown Market to the plantations of Kentucky to escaping to freedom in Canada to being introduced to the Queen in England. Born enslaved, Henson eventually escaped and became a respected minister and famed secular leader.

"My Name Is Not Tom" is a biography of Josiah Henson, the man catapulted into fame after Harriet Beecher Stowe noted that certain events in his life partially influenced the development of her fictional character Uncle Tom. While previous biographies have relied heavily on Henson's four autobiographies, which replicated the myth that he was the sole inspiration for Stowe's character, "My Name Is Not Tom" uses new primary source research to fill in the untold parts of his extraordinary life and examine his views of slavery and morality, which changed substantially over the course of his life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781647125370
Publisher:	Georgetown University Press
Publication date:	04/02/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	248
File size:	17 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Susan Cooke Soderberg retired as a historian with the Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission and has written several books on state and local history.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Born Enslaved
2. Growing Up Enslaved
3. Maimed and Adapting
4. Journey to Kentucky
5. The Cost of Freedom
6. Escape
7. Freedom in Canada
8. A New Dream
9. England
10. Discord at Home
11. New Directions
12. Royalty and Remembrance
Epilogue – Legacy
Appendix A – Josiah Henson Timeline
Appendix B – Josiah Henson's family
Appendix C – Josiah Henson's speeches

What People are Saying About This

Anthony Cohen

'My Name Is Not Tom' thrusts Henson into a new place of cultural significance, carefully ferreting out historical fact from fiction while burnishing his legacy for new generations. Henson's greatest triumph, we discover, was having a hand in the dissolution of American slavery—the very system whose name became synonymous with his own. Soderberg's greatest accomplishment is breathing new life into one of history's most misunderstood figures and proving, to paraphrase Henson's own autobiography, that truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

Steven Cook

Soderberg's book skillfully presents Josiah Henson as a multifaceted figure, emphasizing both his extraordinary accomplishments and the complexities of his character. By placing Henson within broader historical and political contexts, the book illustrates his resilience and adaptability in overcoming adversity. Soderberg offers a nuanced portrayal, showing Henson as not just a symbol of perseverance but as an individual who navigated the challenges of his time with remarkable moral fortitude. This balanced approach deepens the reader's understanding of Henson's humanity and lasting legacy.

Susanna Ashton

Studies of Henson rarely apprehend the breadth of his extraordinary achievements. Now, finally, we have the biography this American hero deserves. Soderberg's careful and nuanced study of his long life as a fugitive, leader, hustler, and liberator provides a rich and heartening read.

Kate Clifford Larson

Susan Soderberg masterfully weaves a compelling narrative of the real man whose life in slavery and freedom is far more inspiring than the fictional 'Uncle Tom' of Harriet Beecher Stowe's imagination. In Soderberg's skillful hands Henson emerges complex, deeply spiritual, and determined to acquire power and influence and reclaim his life and voice. Extraordinary, well researched, and a must read!