The Oxford Handbook of Slavery in the Americas, ed. Robert L. Paquette and Mark M. Smith

Abstract

American slavery has undoubtedly been one of the most innovative and influential areas of historical investigation over the past forty years. The thirty-two essays in this timely reference work attest to this and, by providing clear signposts for future research, also demonstrate the continuing vitality of this rich field of inquiry. Written by a variety of scholars ranging from some of the doyens of the subject, such as Eugene Genovese and Stanley Engerman, to some promising newcomers, the individual contributions provide incisive, nuanced introductions to a wide range of topics and themes. One slightly jarring note, however, is that the overwhelming majority of the impressive international team of contributors are from North American, British, or European institutions. There is no input from African or African-based scholars. While admittedly this is a work dedicated to slavery in the Americas, this omission is nevertheless rather surprising, given the fact that several essays draw explicit attention to the importance of a broader Atlantic perspective towards the subject.