America's Good Terrorist
John Brown and the Harpers Ferry Raid

While this book is the work of a professional historian, Poland’s argument is unconvincing, especially because he cannot sufficiently substantiate his constant claim that Brown was a terrorist, even though this seems to be the real reason he wrote it. Certainly, Brown does not act like a terrorist a......more

It's an unusual thing to find a biographer who so clearly holds his subject in contempt. Charles Poland's "America's Good Terrorist: John Brown and the Harpers Ferry Raid" is a well-written and detailed examination of John Brown's attack on the Federal arsenal at Harpers' Ferry, the following trials......more

With countless books written on American terrorist John Brown, why do we need another one? Author Charles P. Poland Jr. says we need a new interpretation for current times, claiming “today, the view of Brown has morphed to that of, at the very least, a “good terrorist”. Despite a disclaimer that the......more

Excellent read! The book, “America’s Good Terrorist” by Charles P. Poland, Jr. about John Brown and his raid at Harper’s Ferry, is extremely well written and encapsulates John Brown’s raid to attempt to end slavery. The author provides quality insight on Brown and his life and the time leading up to......more

Fantastic research addressing episodes in the lead up, execution, and aftermath of Harper’s Ferry that usually go overlooked by other biographies (the escape of some surviving raiders, the trial, how Virginia and Wise reacted, the Kennedy farm, in sum, the “boring” bits). However, the author spends......more