It intrigues me that Adam Hochschild will be talking about a subject for which my slim knowledge comes almost entirely from one article (which has meant a lot to me): Every Arrow Needs a Bow: William Wilberforce.
- Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire's Slaves by Adam Hochschild (Houghton Mifflin; 467 pages; $26.95): The abolitionist movement in 18th century Britain marked an unprecedented shift in civil society. Slaves had rebelled throughout history, "but the campaign in England was something never seen before," writes Adam Hochschild. "[I]t was the first time a large number of people became outraged, and stayed outraged for many years, over someone else's rights." In "Bury the Chains," Hochschild, the Bay Area author of "King Leopold's Ghost," presents a gripping and inspiring account of the abolitionist crusade. He deftly teases out the movement's significance in terms of the activist techniques that evolved from it, from consumer boycotts and lapel pins to media campaigns.
This coming Wednesday: LITERARY GUIDE: Adam Hochschild Discussing "Bury the Chains." 7:30 p.m. Cody's, 2454 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. (510) 845-7852.