Rough Crossings

Simon Schama's "Rough Crossings" unveils a pivotal yet often overlooked chapter of the American Revolution: the extraordinary odyssey of tens of thousands of enslaved people who, promised freedom by the British, cast their lot with the Crown against their rebel masters. Initiated by Virginia's last royal governor, Lord Dunmore's proclamation ignited a mass exodus, transforming a military tactic into one of America's most significant acts of self-emancipation. Schama meticulously charts their harrowing journey through the chaos of war, the constant peril of recapture, and their eventual, often disillusioned, resettlement in inhospitable Nova Scotia. Far from finding the promised land, many faced continued hardship and betrayal. The narrative culminates in a little-known, epic voyage across the Atlantic to Sierra Leone, a new colony established for these 'Black Loyalists,' illustrating the complex, often tragic, consequences of their pursuit of British freedom. This book is a powerful testament to their resilience, courage, and the profound, enduring legacy of their quest for liberty.