The Biography of Harriet Tubman (eBook)

Sarah Hopkins Bradford (1818 – 1912) was a 19th-century American writer and historian, who is best known for her early biographies of Harriet Tubman, a formidable figure in the abolitionist movement. Her works include 'Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman' (1869) and 'Harriet Tubman, the Moses of Her People' (1886), which collectively serve as valuable primary sources on Tubman's extraordinary life and contributions to the Underground Railroad. Bradford's literary style combined a narrative approach with biographical sketching, delivering rich, engaging accounts of Tubman's heroics and the broader historical context of slavery in the United States. Her decision to write Tubman's life story was also an effort to help alleviate the financial distress of the then unsung hero. Bradford herself faced financial difficulties and utilized her writing as a means of support. Her close access to Tubman and firsthand accounts given by Tubman and her associates lent authenticity to Bradford's work, which resonates historical significance and remains an essential reading for those interested in Tubman's legacy and the antebellum era. Bradford's work not only elevated the legacy of Harriet Tubman but also helped to shape the way biographical narratives could serve social and historical purposes.