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The Tubman Command: A Novel
By the bestselling author of The Hamilton Affair, the Tubman Command is an impeccably researched historical novel that brings to light the bravery and brilliance of American icon Harriet Tubman.
It’s May 1863. Outgeneraled and outgunned, a demoralized Union Army has pulled back with massive losses at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Fort Sumter, hated symbol of the Rebellion, taunts the American navy with its artillery and underwater mines.
In Beaufort, South Carolina, one very special woman, code named Moses, is hatching a spectacular plan. Hunted by Confederates, revered by slaves, Harriet Tubman plots an expedition behind enemy lines to liberate hundreds of bondsmen and recruit them as soldiers. A bounty on her head, she has given up husband and home for the noblest cause: a nation of, by, and for the people.
The Tubman Command tells the story of Tubman at the height of her powers, when she devises the largest plantation raid of the Civil War. General David Hunter places her in charge of a team of black scouts even though skeptical of what one woman can accomplish. For her gamble to succeed, “Moses” must outwit alligators, overseers, slave catchers, sharpshooters, and even hostile Union soldiers to lead gunships up the Combahee River. Men stand in her way at every turn--though one reminds her that love shouldn’t have to be the price of freedom.
It’s May 1863. Outgeneraled and outgunned, a demoralized Union Army has pulled back with massive losses at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Fort Sumter, hated symbol of the Rebellion, taunts the American navy with its artillery and underwater mines.
In Beaufort, South Carolina, one very special woman, code named Moses, is hatching a spectacular plan. Hunted by Confederates, revered by slaves, Harriet Tubman plots an expedition behind enemy lines to liberate hundreds of bondsmen and recruit them as soldiers. A bounty on her head, she has given up husband and home for the noblest cause: a nation of, by, and for the people.
The Tubman Command tells the story of Tubman at the height of her powers, when she devises the largest plantation raid of the Civil War. General David Hunter places her in charge of a team of black scouts even though skeptical of what one woman can accomplish. For her gamble to succeed, “Moses” must outwit alligators, overseers, slave catchers, sharpshooters, and even hostile Union soldiers to lead gunships up the Combahee River. Men stand in her way at every turn--though one reminds her that love shouldn’t have to be the price of freedom.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2019
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May 27, 2019
19th Century America sees the North and South at war and Union spy and member of the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman is at the center of our narrative. Known through the network as "Moses", Tubman makes many trips to "the land of the Pharaohs " to free men, women, and children from the tyranny of slavery.
Having never read anything in fiction or nonfiction about Harriet Tubman, I thought this historical fiction was a good introduction to a very formidable woman who played an important role during the Civil War. That being said, it is a fictionalized version of her story and does tend to give Tubman a romance that seemed a bit unnecessary. Apart from that quibble, I enjoyed when it focused on Harriet Tubman's military style command and I enjoyed her many encounters with the members of the Union Army that thought they could steamroll her.
Thanks to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date 21/05/19
Goodreads Review 26/05/19
Having never read anything in fiction or nonfiction about Harriet Tubman, I thought this historical fiction was a good introduction to a very formidable woman who played an important role during the Civil War. That being said, it is a fictionalized version of her story and does tend to give Tubman a romance that seemed a bit unnecessary. Apart from that quibble, I enjoyed when it focused on Harriet Tubman's military style command and I enjoyed her many encounters with the members of the Union Army that thought they could steamroll her.
Thanks to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date 21/05/19
Goodreads Review 26/05/19
March 28, 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Pub. Date: May 21, 2019
Mini Review
The author of “The Hamilton Affair” has written another interesting historical novel, “The Tubman Command.” In this flawlessly researched novel, one learns of the lesser known heroic deeds of the black icon Harriet Tubman AKA Moses. Most people have heard of Tubman for engineering the Underground Railroad and smuggling fugitive slaves from the South to the North. This novel veers away from that part of her life and instead concentrates on her lesser known missions as a spy for the Union army. Her efforts helped turn the tide during the Civil War, which, as of May 1863, the North was losing. Cobbs keeps the writing authentic in many ways, such as using the long-forgotten dialect of the Africans living in Hilton Head Island located in South Carolina. This is where Tubman and her scouts locate Rebel underwater mines. Adding to the appreciated realism, each chapter begins with an actual and often moving quote from a general, colonel, scout or slave regarding Moses’ extraordinary talents. The author shines brightest when she brings focus to the human side of the famous woman. The story fluctuates between Harriet's determined dedication to freeing people from slavery and her sense of burden and loss in her personal life. She left her first husband to pursue her own freedom and outlived her second husband. The author allows her heroine a love affair, which she admits in the endnotes to be pure fiction. This sexual relationship may not have been needed other than as a means to reach an audience who simply want romance in their stories. Still, Cobbs emphasizes that, although her real-life protagonist was a lonely woman, she knew she was equal, or more probably, superior to any man, black or white. Tubman is one of America’s first extraordinary female leaders.
I received this Advance Review Copy (ARC) novel from the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
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Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Pub. Date: May 21, 2019
Mini Review
The author of “The Hamilton Affair” has written another interesting historical novel, “The Tubman Command.” In this flawlessly researched novel, one learns of the lesser known heroic deeds of the black icon Harriet Tubman AKA Moses. Most people have heard of Tubman for engineering the Underground Railroad and smuggling fugitive slaves from the South to the North. This novel veers away from that part of her life and instead concentrates on her lesser known missions as a spy for the Union army. Her efforts helped turn the tide during the Civil War, which, as of May 1863, the North was losing. Cobbs keeps the writing authentic in many ways, such as using the long-forgotten dialect of the Africans living in Hilton Head Island located in South Carolina. This is where Tubman and her scouts locate Rebel underwater mines. Adding to the appreciated realism, each chapter begins with an actual and often moving quote from a general, colonel, scout or slave regarding Moses’ extraordinary talents. The author shines brightest when she brings focus to the human side of the famous woman. The story fluctuates between Harriet's determined dedication to freeing people from slavery and her sense of burden and loss in her personal life. She left her first husband to pursue her own freedom and outlived her second husband. The author allows her heroine a love affair, which she admits in the endnotes to be pure fiction. This sexual relationship may not have been needed other than as a means to reach an audience who simply want romance in their stories. Still, Cobbs emphasizes that, although her real-life protagonist was a lonely woman, she knew she was equal, or more probably, superior to any man, black or white. Tubman is one of America’s first extraordinary female leaders.
I received this Advance Review Copy (ARC) novel from the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
Find all my book reviews at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
https://books6259.wordpress.com/
https://twitter.com/NeesRecord
https://www.facebook.com/martie.neesr...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amz...
https://www.pinterest.com/martienreco...
April 19, 2019
I read Elizabeth Cobbs’ 2019 historical romance “The Tubman Command” in kindle ebook, which I received from Skyhorse Publishing through netgalley.com, in exchange for publishing an honest review. The novel's publication date is expected to be 21 May 2019. I am primarily a reviewer of science and science fiction, and so you may question what I think I am doing reading a book like this. The explanation is simple – I live in Beaufort South Carolina, on Lady’s Island to be precise. In case you are unaware, the Sea Islands here were Union territory during most of the US Civil War, adjacent to the Confederate mainland. The Raid on Combahee Ferry, that freed over 750 enslaved people, is a well-known part of the local lore. I kayak in the saltwater Beaufort and Coosaw Rivers along the route taken. Every time I drive to Charleston, I pass over the Hwy 17 Harriet Tubman Bridge, over the Combahee River, and look at the site of the raid just to the side of the road. There is a campaign by local Tabernacle Baptist Church to erect a monument to Harriet Tubman in Beaufort to commemorate her role. See https://www.harriettubmanmonument.com/. I often wonder what it was like back then.
I am no historian, but one of the challenges must be that the historical records of Tubman’s role are scant, because of her status as an escaped slave, and because of her sex, not to mention that her operations were of course conducted in secrecy. But there is little doubt that she played an active role, conducting surveillance missions and accompanying the troops on Colonel Montgomery’s raid. The reading I’ve done only speculates on how pivotal her role was. So I’m under no illusion that a novel could have been written that only conforms to documented history. But readers need to be aware that Cobb did not just write a fictionalized account of events – she wrote a romance novel. Whether the sexual liaison between Harriet Tubman and Samuel Heyward really took place (there is zero evidence), or even if it was remotely possible (there is also zero evidence against it), I feel it to be disrespectful of the actual historical figures.
While on the subject of actual historical figures, there are also cameo appearances by Robert Smalls and Laura Towne. Robert Smalls is another local figure, known for his commandeering of a Confederate military transport ship and the surrender of it to the Union Navy off Charleston. Later, during Reconstruction, he served as representative of Beaufort in the US House of Representatives. He doesn’t actually have much to do with Harriet Tubman and the Raid on Combahee Ferry. But it was nice to include it. Laura Towne, however, is badly misportrayed. It is ironic that the fictional Harriet Tubman’s experience at a Shout in a St. Helena Praise House, is actually an experience from Laura Towne’s diary. While the fictional Laura Towne is portrayed as a vocal and condemning missionary. Towne’s contributions in demonstrating the educational potential of the freed slaves of the Sea Islands, paved the way for national policy in Reconstruction. (which sadly was deconstructed within a few more years). The Unitarian Laura Towne and her partner, the Quaker Ellen Murray founded the Penn School as part of the Port Royal Experiment. If you want to know the actual history, I recommend Penn Center: A History Preserved, by Orville Vernon Burton and Wilbur Cross.
So what to do about my rating? It is an important and fascinating task that Elizabeth Cobbs has taken on in writing a fictionalized account of Harriet Tubman and the Raid on Combahee Ferry. But I had to hold my nose to get through descriptions of her physical craving for the bulging muscles of Samuel, and the trashing of Laura Towne. What a shame. 2 stars, I guess.
I am no historian, but one of the challenges must be that the historical records of Tubman’s role are scant, because of her status as an escaped slave, and because of her sex, not to mention that her operations were of course conducted in secrecy. But there is little doubt that she played an active role, conducting surveillance missions and accompanying the troops on Colonel Montgomery’s raid. The reading I’ve done only speculates on how pivotal her role was. So I’m under no illusion that a novel could have been written that only conforms to documented history. But readers need to be aware that Cobb did not just write a fictionalized account of events – she wrote a romance novel. Whether the sexual liaison between Harriet Tubman and Samuel Heyward really took place (there is zero evidence), or even if it was remotely possible (there is also zero evidence against it), I feel it to be disrespectful of the actual historical figures.
While on the subject of actual historical figures, there are also cameo appearances by Robert Smalls and Laura Towne. Robert Smalls is another local figure, known for his commandeering of a Confederate military transport ship and the surrender of it to the Union Navy off Charleston. Later, during Reconstruction, he served as representative of Beaufort in the US House of Representatives. He doesn’t actually have much to do with Harriet Tubman and the Raid on Combahee Ferry. But it was nice to include it. Laura Towne, however, is badly misportrayed. It is ironic that the fictional Harriet Tubman’s experience at a Shout in a St. Helena Praise House, is actually an experience from Laura Towne’s diary. While the fictional Laura Towne is portrayed as a vocal and condemning missionary. Towne’s contributions in demonstrating the educational potential of the freed slaves of the Sea Islands, paved the way for national policy in Reconstruction. (which sadly was deconstructed within a few more years). The Unitarian Laura Towne and her partner, the Quaker Ellen Murray founded the Penn School as part of the Port Royal Experiment. If you want to know the actual history, I recommend Penn Center: A History Preserved, by Orville Vernon Burton and Wilbur Cross.
So what to do about my rating? It is an important and fascinating task that Elizabeth Cobbs has taken on in writing a fictionalized account of Harriet Tubman and the Raid on Combahee Ferry. But I had to hold my nose to get through descriptions of her physical craving for the bulging muscles of Samuel, and the trashing of Laura Towne. What a shame. 2 stars, I guess.
April 15, 2019
NOT BAD, JUST DIDN'T GRAB MY ATTENTION
DNF at 55%
Since I have now been working on this book for 4 days - that's 3 longer than it should have taken me - I have decided to call time of death on this one. It's not that this was a bad book or anything, there was just something about it that didn't capture me. I kept procrastinating and I even stopped reading mid-chapter numerous times, something that I NEVER do.
I picked out this book because of the interesting subject, I was familiar with Harriet Tubman's story but had never read anything about it, so I thought this would be a good time to do it. Sadly, I felt like this was a sort of wasted opportunity. It felt very aimed at an American audience. It lacked context, which I am sure Americans would have, but because I am not American and have not learnt about the American Civil War in school, I should couldn't connect with the story.
I am sad to have to DNF this, but I just don't want to spent anymore time with a book that doesn't do it for me. Again, it's not a bad book, it just didn't grab me.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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DNF at 55%
Since I have now been working on this book for 4 days - that's 3 longer than it should have taken me - I have decided to call time of death on this one. It's not that this was a bad book or anything, there was just something about it that didn't capture me. I kept procrastinating and I even stopped reading mid-chapter numerous times, something that I NEVER do.
I picked out this book because of the interesting subject, I was familiar with Harriet Tubman's story but had never read anything about it, so I thought this would be a good time to do it. Sadly, I felt like this was a sort of wasted opportunity. It felt very aimed at an American audience. It lacked context, which I am sure Americans would have, but because I am not American and have not learnt about the American Civil War in school, I should couldn't connect with the story.
I am sad to have to DNF this, but I just don't want to spent anymore time with a book that doesn't do it for me. Again, it's not a bad book, it just didn't grab me.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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May 26, 2019
More like 3.5 stars. This is a hard review to write, because there’s a lot to like about this obviously well-researched, ably-written book about a woman who deserves to have more attention paid to her story. (In fact, I finished this book at the very moment I received a push notification saying that the Harriet Tubman $20 bill would not be in circulation for several years—if ever.) While it references Harriet Tubman’s more famous work freeing slaves through the “Underground Railroad,” The Tubman Command focuses on telling the less-known story of Tubman’s work as a scout for the Union Army during the Civil War, and particularly her connection to the Union’s daring raid up the Combahee River in South Carolina in an attempt to free one thousand slaves.
I knew a little of the history and outcome of that raid before reading The Tubman Command, yet I still thought author Elizabeth Cobbs did a great job of building and maintaining suspense in her account of this action; this section of the book is a real page turner. What I thought was less successful—and what in fact undercut the book entirely for me—was Cobbs’ fictionalizing a love interest for Harriet, who we see throughout the novel pining for a man to hold her during the night. WHAT??! Was it really necessary to give this brave and intrepid woman—who was credited with a hundred confirmed slave rescues and who knows how many more; and who returned to the South, where there was a bounty on her head and a grisly death awaiting her if she was captured, to scout for the Union Army—some sort of romantic entanglement to, as the author says in her afterword, “humanize” her? Her drive to liberate as many of her fellow slaves as possible was humanizing enough—no man necessary.
Pat Barker, who wrote the famous “Regeneration” trilogy featuring World War I poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen as well as psychiatrist William Rivers, once said in an interview that she had a strict rule: no sex for her historical figures. She saved that for her made-up characters, since she felt it unfair to speculate with actual people. I really wish Cobbs had followed this rule as well, and spared Tubman—and her otherwise entertaining and engaging book— from a romantic subplot that felt wholly unnecessary and a little demeaning.
Thank you to NetGalley and Arcade Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.
I knew a little of the history and outcome of that raid before reading The Tubman Command, yet I still thought author Elizabeth Cobbs did a great job of building and maintaining suspense in her account of this action; this section of the book is a real page turner. What I thought was less successful—and what in fact undercut the book entirely for me—was Cobbs’ fictionalizing a love interest for Harriet, who we see throughout the novel pining for a man to hold her during the night. WHAT??! Was it really necessary to give this brave and intrepid woman—who was credited with a hundred confirmed slave rescues and who knows how many more; and who returned to the South, where there was a bounty on her head and a grisly death awaiting her if she was captured, to scout for the Union Army—some sort of romantic entanglement to, as the author says in her afterword, “humanize” her? Her drive to liberate as many of her fellow slaves as possible was humanizing enough—no man necessary.
Pat Barker, who wrote the famous “Regeneration” trilogy featuring World War I poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen as well as psychiatrist William Rivers, once said in an interview that she had a strict rule: no sex for her historical figures. She saved that for her made-up characters, since she felt it unfair to speculate with actual people. I really wish Cobbs had followed this rule as well, and spared Tubman—and her otherwise entertaining and engaging book— from a romantic subplot that felt wholly unnecessary and a little demeaning.
Thank you to NetGalley and Arcade Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.
May 8, 2019
This well-researched novel gives us a brand new tale about a petite woman who left some giant steps in our history. I knew about her work on the Underground Railroad, but did not know of additional ways she is thought to have contributed to freeing slaves during the war. The raid that takes place to free slaves from the plantations on the Combahee River took meticulous planning and bravery. It brings tears to my eyes to imagine the flood of humanity pouring onto the riverbank to find shelter on those re-purposed riverboats--the Sentinel and the Harriet Weed. The book covers just a small portion of Harriet's life, but gives us such a thorough glimpse into her struggles and triumphs.
A big thank you to BookishFirst for my paperback ARC!
A big thank you to BookishFirst for my paperback ARC!
April 27, 2021
This is a fascinating fictional account of what Harriet Tubman did for the Union army during the Civil War. It's based upon fact and is actually a harrowing read in parts. I would have given it a 5 star rating except for the fact that I found it slow in some parts. I would recommend to all fans of historical fiction!
July 5, 2022
Well written. Well researched. A piece of Harriet Tubman’s years with Union Army painstakingly created. The tension of this moment in time is palpable!
What more could a reader ask for? Oh, the Author’s Notes enhance the read!!
What more could a reader ask for? Oh, the Author’s Notes enhance the read!!
February 27, 2019
During all of my years at a public school in rural southwestern Ohio in the 1950s, it was a man's world. I don't recall learning a thing about any women who made history other than Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (well okay, maybe Betsy Ross, who earned 13 stars for her work). Once I got out and about, graduated from college and joined the ranks of the feminist movement, though, that changed. The area to which I moved (and have spent the rest of my life so far) boasts stops on the Underground Railroad, and I soon became familiar with other suffragette names like Harriet Taylor Upton and Harriet Tubman (notably, the Upton House, her home from 1887 to 1931 and now a museum, is in Warren, Ohio - just a few miles from my home).
Given that proximity and my longstanding commitment to women's rights, then, I was delighted to have an opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I knew a bit about Tubman's work with the Underground Railroad; but until now, I had no clue as to her very important work as a spy for the Union Army. In fact, as detailed in this book, Gen. David Hunter put her in charge of directing and leading the largest plantation raid of the entire Civil War. Reluctantly, she had left her husband and child to carry on her mission, even while knowing that what the future held was nothing short of daunting. Known far and wide as "Moses," she already was a wanted woman who no doubt would be put to death if captured; nonetheless, she was determined to get behind enemy lines to set bondsmen free and recruit them to fight for the Union cause.
The research it must have taken to even begin pulling together a book like this is amazing to me (and as a journalist, I've got more than a passing acquaintance with the process). Turning that mountain of information into an educational yet highly readable format makes it all the more special. Although it is based on facts, it is a novel; the author does an outstanding job of adding details and emotion-filled dialogue that bring the story to life and make it far more interesting than a dry rendition in a history textbook.
In short, well done and highly recommended.
Given that proximity and my longstanding commitment to women's rights, then, I was delighted to have an opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I knew a bit about Tubman's work with the Underground Railroad; but until now, I had no clue as to her very important work as a spy for the Union Army. In fact, as detailed in this book, Gen. David Hunter put her in charge of directing and leading the largest plantation raid of the entire Civil War. Reluctantly, she had left her husband and child to carry on her mission, even while knowing that what the future held was nothing short of daunting. Known far and wide as "Moses," she already was a wanted woman who no doubt would be put to death if captured; nonetheless, she was determined to get behind enemy lines to set bondsmen free and recruit them to fight for the Union cause.
The research it must have taken to even begin pulling together a book like this is amazing to me (and as a journalist, I've got more than a passing acquaintance with the process). Turning that mountain of information into an educational yet highly readable format makes it all the more special. Although it is based on facts, it is a novel; the author does an outstanding job of adding details and emotion-filled dialogue that bring the story to life and make it far more interesting than a dry rendition in a history textbook.
In short, well done and highly recommended.
February 10, 2020
4.5 STARS 👏🏻
ARC received through NetGalley for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher, Arcade!
It’s May 1863. Outgeneraled and outgunned, a demoralized Union Army has pulled back with massive losses at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Fort Sumter, hated symbol of the Rebellion, taunts the American navy with its artillery and underwater mines.
In Beaufort, South Carolina, one very special woman, code named Moses, is hatching a spectacular plan. Hunted by Confederates, revered by slaves, Harriet Tubman plots an expedition behind enemy lines to liberate hundreds of bondsmen and recruit them as soldiers. A bounty on her head, she has given up husband and home for the noblest cause: a nation of, by, and for the people.
The Tubman Command tells the story of Tubman at the height of her powers, when she devises the largest plantation raid of the Civil War. General David Hunter places her in charge of a team of black scouts even though skeptical of what one woman can accomplish. For her gamble to succeed, “Moses” must outwit alligators, overseers, slave catchers, sharpshooters, and even hostile Union soldiers to lead gunships up the Combahee River. Men stand in her way at every turn—though one reminds her that love shouldn’t have to be the price of freedom.
ARC received through NetGalley for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher, Arcade!
It’s May 1863. Outgeneraled and outgunned, a demoralized Union Army has pulled back with massive losses at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Fort Sumter, hated symbol of the Rebellion, taunts the American navy with its artillery and underwater mines.
In Beaufort, South Carolina, one very special woman, code named Moses, is hatching a spectacular plan. Hunted by Confederates, revered by slaves, Harriet Tubman plots an expedition behind enemy lines to liberate hundreds of bondsmen and recruit them as soldiers. A bounty on her head, she has given up husband and home for the noblest cause: a nation of, by, and for the people.
The Tubman Command tells the story of Tubman at the height of her powers, when she devises the largest plantation raid of the Civil War. General David Hunter places her in charge of a team of black scouts even though skeptical of what one woman can accomplish. For her gamble to succeed, “Moses” must outwit alligators, overseers, slave catchers, sharpshooters, and even hostile Union soldiers to lead gunships up the Combahee River. Men stand in her way at every turn—though one reminds her that love shouldn’t have to be the price of freedom.
May 25, 2020
I need to start by saying Harriet was always a hero to me. Growing up in auburn, I'd heard about her from my grandmother, who remembered her riding around town on her bicycle and then later,learning about her in school. She was always this sort of cardboard hero ..as I never really imagined a living,breathing woman. Now I can. This was such wonderfully vivid book for me. Now my memories mixed together with this story I can truly integrate the fact that she WAS a real life person. Strange. I never thought about her love life. Granted- fiction, but she was a woman with feelings and a HUGE COURAGEOUS HEART so the love story just helped me realize - REAL PERSON...not cardboard hero. I wasn't t sure the book would do her justice.. But as an Auburnian, it made me very proud. And happy. Because seriously? No one ever honored her with her own novel. So thank you author.
May 9, 2019
Thanks to Bookish First and the publisher for kindly providing me with an ARC... sorry it took me forever to get around to reviewing.
So, I have to say, this book is a little out of my usual comfort zone when it comes to the kind of books that I normally read. I'm not usually very interested in historical fiction, like at all. But I decided to give this one a chance after reading a sample chapter because the writing was so lyrical and just kept me entranced and interested.
However, once I actually sat down with my copy and tried to dig in, life got in the way. I found myself pushing it aside, time after time, until I could finally carve out a big enough chunk of time to give this book the time that it deserved. It didn't disappoint. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this one.
I never really gave much thought to Harriet Tubman as a person before. Sure, I know how amazing she was and how important what she did was. They taught us that in school, but this book goes about the subject in a whole new way. It gave her so much character she became a real person. The author truly has a magical way of making boring non-fiction come to life. I liked the way that the author took a normally dull textbook topic and really romanticized it for the modern reader.
So, I have to say, this book is a little out of my usual comfort zone when it comes to the kind of books that I normally read. I'm not usually very interested in historical fiction, like at all. But I decided to give this one a chance after reading a sample chapter because the writing was so lyrical and just kept me entranced and interested.
However, once I actually sat down with my copy and tried to dig in, life got in the way. I found myself pushing it aside, time after time, until I could finally carve out a big enough chunk of time to give this book the time that it deserved. It didn't disappoint. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this one.
I never really gave much thought to Harriet Tubman as a person before. Sure, I know how amazing she was and how important what she did was. They taught us that in school, but this book goes about the subject in a whole new way. It gave her so much character she became a real person. The author truly has a magical way of making boring non-fiction come to life. I liked the way that the author took a normally dull textbook topic and really romanticized it for the modern reader.
February 16, 2019
I would give this book 4.5 stars if I could! “The Tubman Command” had all the elements of great historical fiction. It had a captivating story, the history was well researched and it was all brought to life with the author’s imagination! The book focuses on Harriet Tubman’s involvement with the Union Army in gathering military intelligence during the Civil War. While many are familiar with her work on the Underground Railroad, I suspect few knew she commanded a troop of African American Scouts for the purpose of gathering intelligence and participating in military action. The story is a gripping one that highlights the breathtaking courage that she and Scouts had as they slipped deep into Confederate Territory preparing for a Union Military operation that was intended to destroy Confederate food supplies and disrupt the Southern economy as much as possible. It was believed this could be done by destroying crops, equipment and rescuing 100’s of slaves on several large Plantations. The book also brings to focus the human side of Ms. Tubman as she struggles to balance human emotions such as love against her absolute determination to see slavery end. However, one of the most interesting aspects of this book for me was its ability to examine the complexity and contradiction of this war. For the Union, the war was about holding the Union together. For Harriet Tubman and the Scouts, it was about ending slavery. The author highlighted Harriet Tubman’s brilliance in convincing the military that the goals were the same and one couldn’t happen without the other. And where the army would hesitate it was her courage, sacrifice, and determination that guided them forward in the goal of protecting/releasing slaves. Harriet Tubman was an absolutely remarkable woman and this book does a wonderful job showing us exactly why! I thoroughly recommend it! I was privileged to read an advanced copy of this book from Edelweiss Plus and the Publisher, Arcade in exchange for an honest review!
May 20, 2019
While many of us are familiar with Harriet Tubman aka Moses and her many trips South to free slaves, The Tubman Command tells the little known and fascinating chapter of this heroic woman and her work during the Civil War. Harriet was a scout and spy who commanded a group of black soldiers for the Union Army. Under the direction of Union General David Hunter, Harriet helped plan and carry out the 1863 Combahee Ferry raid; a raid that attacked Southern plantations, burning rice fields and freeing more than 700 slaves. Harriet’s team was tasked with going behind enemy lines to determine the location of underwater mines and alert the slaves as to the timing of their rescue.
This is a well-researched, stirring, and thought-provoking look into Tubman’s life during the war. Details of the plight of slaves and free blacks are vividly brought to life in the expert hands of Hoffman. The authentic dialect and vivid descriptions lend the novel a rich and historical atmosphere and Tubman is portrayed as the courageous, determined and resolute woman that she was. This is an immersive and engrossing novel, excellent for fans of historical fiction, those interested in Civil War history, and anyone who wants to read about the true female heroes of our country.
Thank you to Skyhorse Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
This is a well-researched, stirring, and thought-provoking look into Tubman’s life during the war. Details of the plight of slaves and free blacks are vividly brought to life in the expert hands of Hoffman. The authentic dialect and vivid descriptions lend the novel a rich and historical atmosphere and Tubman is portrayed as the courageous, determined and resolute woman that she was. This is an immersive and engrossing novel, excellent for fans of historical fiction, those interested in Civil War history, and anyone who wants to read about the true female heroes of our country.
Thank you to Skyhorse Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
April 14, 2020
*received a free copy from netgalley for honest review* This was a really good book, I really loved the authors note as well it put a lot the book in a clearer perspective, I was really unsure about the sex scenes in it at first but after I read the authors note it made more sense.
November 24, 2019
I first learned that Harriet Tubman was a badass from the show Timeless (RIP one of my favorite shows of all time!). I remember being taught that Harriet Tubman was a guide on the Underground Railroad who helped lead slaves to freedom during the Civil War, but no one ever taught us that she was a commander in the Union Army and led a team of black scouts as they went back and forth from free northern territory to slave plantations. That she gave speeches in northern cities, strategized with Union military leaders, and was likely the mastermind behind a treacherous raid on the Combahee River in South Carolina that freed 750 slaves.
This is the historical fiction account of the Combahee River Raid. It tells the story of Harriet Tubman living in Port Royal, working beside Union officers as she plans and preps for the raid. She takes scouts to slave plantations to warn the slaves so they are prepared to run and she maps torpedos (underwater bombs) that are in the river so the ships can avoid them, all with great peril to herself.
The authors touches on life for slaves, though it is not overly graphic and I can't say there were any new revelations to how horrible life was for slaves. But, I cannot read about it without getting emotional. I cannot imagine the pain and the horror, and I cannot imagine how human beings could treat other human beings that way. (Though, human being still treat other humans horribly today.)
Two things prevent this book from getting a higher rating. The author focuses on a fictional love interest for Tubman. And, the author's note says she does this because she doesn't buy into the virginal female hero and that Tubman was just a woman who likely sought connection to other humans, including romantic companionship. Okay, I get that. I also don't buy into the virginal female hero trope, but it just did not fit in great here, I didn't think. It felt odd and almost a disservice to Tubman's story. I think I would have preferred a historical fiction without the romance storyline but still with the friendships she forged.
While I did learn new things (yes!) the book was pretty slow in places. It takes place over the course of like, maybe two weeks (?) and it was an action-packed two weeks, but the story just seemed to move slow. The final 25% when they are actually conducting the raid had me on the edge of my seat though, so the ending flew by!
All in all, glad that I read this and so glad that I learned more about Tubman. A historical figure that I already thought was amazing but now I think was a total badass and I am in awe.
This is the historical fiction account of the Combahee River Raid. It tells the story of Harriet Tubman living in Port Royal, working beside Union officers as she plans and preps for the raid. She takes scouts to slave plantations to warn the slaves so they are prepared to run and she maps torpedos (underwater bombs) that are in the river so the ships can avoid them, all with great peril to herself.
The authors touches on life for slaves, though it is not overly graphic and I can't say there were any new revelations to how horrible life was for slaves. But, I cannot read about it without getting emotional. I cannot imagine the pain and the horror, and I cannot imagine how human beings could treat other human beings that way. (Though, human being still treat other humans horribly today.)
Two things prevent this book from getting a higher rating. The author focuses on a fictional love interest for Tubman. And, the author's note says she does this because she doesn't buy into the virginal female hero and that Tubman was just a woman who likely sought connection to other humans, including romantic companionship. Okay, I get that. I also don't buy into the virginal female hero trope, but it just did not fit in great here, I didn't think. It felt odd and almost a disservice to Tubman's story. I think I would have preferred a historical fiction without the romance storyline but still with the friendships she forged.
While I did learn new things (yes!) the book was pretty slow in places. It takes place over the course of like, maybe two weeks (?) and it was an action-packed two weeks, but the story just seemed to move slow. The final 25% when they are actually conducting the raid had me on the edge of my seat though, so the ending flew by!
All in all, glad that I read this and so glad that I learned more about Tubman. A historical figure that I already thought was amazing but now I think was a total badass and I am in awe.
March 11, 2020
When I read She Came to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman, Erica Armstrong Dunbar's biography of Harriet Tubman for Black History Month, I learned about Tubman's great military achievement, the Combahee River Raid (1863). There is a non-fiction book about it listed in Dunbar's bibliography, but I was unable to obtain it through libraries, and purchasing it was beyond my current means. So when I was asked to list books that I'm reading for Women's History Month on a Goodreads group called Read Women, I selected a historical novel about the Combahee River Raid, The Tubman Command by Elizabeth Cobbs, as one of them.
Harriet Tubman was clearly a born leader who had a talent for planning and was a gifted speaker. She was also determined to achieve her goals, had tremendous courage and believed strongly that the visions she received were messages from God. Elizabeth Cobbs portrays her as a character with these traits, but also shows us her vulnerable side as a woman who wanted a relationship with a man. Her Tubman seemed wary of trusting men on an intimate level. Based on what I read about her in She Came To Slay, I think she had good reason to be untrusting.
A romantic possibility for Tubman is a sub-plot in The Tubman Command, but it isn't a major focus of the narrative. So I wouldn't call this a romance. It's mainly about a historic military operation that resulted in the rescue of 750 slaves.
The fictional elements of The Tubman Command didn't cause me to lose confidence in Cobbs' accuracy. There is a back cover blurb praising this book from Edda L. Fields-Black, an African American academic who has been working on a scholarly book about the Combahee River Raid that is forthcoming.
I found The Tubman Command moving, insightful and well-written. I thought it was also original because I had never read a novel dealing with this significant event. This is my first five star read of 2020. It will certainly be a candidate for my top ten of the year.
For my complete review see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
Harriet Tubman was clearly a born leader who had a talent for planning and was a gifted speaker. She was also determined to achieve her goals, had tremendous courage and believed strongly that the visions she received were messages from God. Elizabeth Cobbs portrays her as a character with these traits, but also shows us her vulnerable side as a woman who wanted a relationship with a man. Her Tubman seemed wary of trusting men on an intimate level. Based on what I read about her in She Came To Slay, I think she had good reason to be untrusting.
A romantic possibility for Tubman is a sub-plot in The Tubman Command, but it isn't a major focus of the narrative. So I wouldn't call this a romance. It's mainly about a historic military operation that resulted in the rescue of 750 slaves.
The fictional elements of The Tubman Command didn't cause me to lose confidence in Cobbs' accuracy. There is a back cover blurb praising this book from Edda L. Fields-Black, an African American academic who has been working on a scholarly book about the Combahee River Raid that is forthcoming.
I found The Tubman Command moving, insightful and well-written. I thought it was also original because I had never read a novel dealing with this significant event. This is my first five star read of 2020. It will certainly be a candidate for my top ten of the year.
For my complete review see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
May 7, 2019
I read a previous book by Elizabeth Cobbs [The Hamilton Affair] and I thoroughly enjoyed it, and learned quite a bit about both Alexander Hamilton and his amazing wife Elizabeth Schuyler [enough that it has made me seek out nonfiction books on the man and his life], so when I saw that she had a new book out on Harriet Tubman [whom I know little about], I was excited to read it. I was not disappointed at all.
The research that must go into writing a book of historical fiction must be insane - to both write a story that contains the truth AND to write a story of fiction surrounding that truth - to tell a story that both teaches and entertains - I feel that must be a tough road and Ms. Cobbs handles it deftly and confidently.
The story that is told here - of Harriet Tubman and her involvement of the freeing of over 700 slaves from plantations along the Combahee River - is both thrilling and thought-provoking. It shows just how much grit that the soldiers had - both colored and white - and what they were willing to risk to save the lives of those enslaved and to put a dent into the lives of the rebellious South. I am sure that this raid helped change the course of the war, though as far as I can tell, little has been written about this and it was for me, the first time I had ever heard of this daring escapade.
It is also a story of Harriet's every day life [leading up to the raid] as a baker, as a nurse and as a spy. All things I didn't know about her before this book. And the author's note at the end is filled with even more content about Harriet Tubman that continued to fill me with wonder at the bravery and audacity of this small black woman. SO many lives were saved by that very audacity and I believe that we need to have more books written about her and the other women that risked their lives to help the cause against slavery and brought people to freedom.
This was an excellent read and one I am grateful to have had the chance to read. I highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing/Arcade for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The research that must go into writing a book of historical fiction must be insane - to both write a story that contains the truth AND to write a story of fiction surrounding that truth - to tell a story that both teaches and entertains - I feel that must be a tough road and Ms. Cobbs handles it deftly and confidently.
The story that is told here - of Harriet Tubman and her involvement of the freeing of over 700 slaves from plantations along the Combahee River - is both thrilling and thought-provoking. It shows just how much grit that the soldiers had - both colored and white - and what they were willing to risk to save the lives of those enslaved and to put a dent into the lives of the rebellious South. I am sure that this raid helped change the course of the war, though as far as I can tell, little has been written about this and it was for me, the first time I had ever heard of this daring escapade.
It is also a story of Harriet's every day life [leading up to the raid] as a baker, as a nurse and as a spy. All things I didn't know about her before this book. And the author's note at the end is filled with even more content about Harriet Tubman that continued to fill me with wonder at the bravery and audacity of this small black woman. SO many lives were saved by that very audacity and I believe that we need to have more books written about her and the other women that risked their lives to help the cause against slavery and brought people to freedom.
This was an excellent read and one I am grateful to have had the chance to read. I highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing/Arcade for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2021
The Tubman Command was definitely another great one. It's a novel, but the author makes all efforts to be historically accurate. She explains in the note at the end why she chose to write the book as fiction instead of nonfiction. Basically, she wanted to flesh out the story around the known historical facts.
This is not the story of the underground railroad, but takes place later in the Civil War, when Tubman acts as a spy and scout for the Union army. Instead of smuggling slaves to freedom in small groups, she now works with army commanders to plan and execute a mission meant to free hundreds in a single night.
It's an exciting, well-paced story, beautifully told. My husband, who snatched the book off my tbr pile and read it before me, complained that it would have benefitted from a map of the relevant region of South Carolina. I agree that a map would be nice, but its absence didn't hinder my enjoyment or understanding of the book.
This is not the story of the underground railroad, but takes place later in the Civil War, when Tubman acts as a spy and scout for the Union army. Instead of smuggling slaves to freedom in small groups, she now works with army commanders to plan and execute a mission meant to free hundreds in a single night.
It's an exciting, well-paced story, beautifully told. My husband, who snatched the book off my tbr pile and read it before me, complained that it would have benefitted from a map of the relevant region of South Carolina. I agree that a map would be nice, but its absence didn't hinder my enjoyment or understanding of the book.
April 8, 2019
I won a copy of Ms. Cobb’s book through BookishFirst. This is an excellent book about an aspect of Harriet Tubman’s life I was not familiar with. I was aware of Tubman’s work with the Underground Railroad but not with her role as a spy for the Union troops. The way Elizabeth Cobbs wrote about Harriet really made her come alive to me as not only a heroic lady but a very human one. This is evidenced in her relationships to other characters in the book and her own words of frustrations and doubts at times. I admire Harriet Tubman and the dedication and courage she displayed in helping others.
Elizabeth Cobbs presented her book in such a way that lends authenticity to what she is writing even though the reader knows parts of it are certainly fictionalized. I like the way she started each chapter with an epigram that was drawn from original documents. The book was intriguing, hard to put down , and filled with enough details to give the reader a clear picture of what was happening, but never sensationalized . This is an excellent book!
Elizabeth Cobbs presented her book in such a way that lends authenticity to what she is writing even though the reader knows parts of it are certainly fictionalized. I like the way she started each chapter with an epigram that was drawn from original documents. The book was intriguing, hard to put down , and filled with enough details to give the reader a clear picture of what was happening, but never sensationalized . This is an excellent book!
March 8, 2020
Harriet Tubman has been one of my favorite heroines since I was a child. She was an amazing woman, and deserving of an amazing book. Unfortunately, this is not that book, though perhaps I have set the bar rather high.
"The Tubman Command" focuses on Harriet Tubman's service as a soldier during the Civil War rather than her time leading people to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Set in South Carolina in the Sea Islands, this book alternated between being very slow to having moments where it picked up and I would think it was finally hitting its stride, before slowing down once more. The interesting parts involved Harriet going behind enemy lines to get information and dealing with racism and sexism. The uninteresting parts were when they were strategizing and the romance between Harriet and another scout. From the other reviews I've read, writing in Harriet and Samuel's romance was rather unpopular and it did feel like a distraction. While it did highlight the complex family arrangements people who were enslaved were forced into, I felt there could have been more interesting ways to present it to the reader.
There was also a lot of missed opportunities. Septima was a poorly realized character who spent most of her time pushing Harriet to pursue a relationship with Samuel...or any man. Meanwhile, I was wondering what would it be like for Septima, currently pregnant with a child who would be born into freedom rather than slavery, unlike her other children? Or living with the fear that, should the Union lose the war, her freedom and that of her children's may be temporary?
While Samuel was motivated to free his family from the plantation they were on and had that desperation feed into his character, the rest of the freed people on the Sea Islands seemed rather carefree and unconcerned about how the war was going. There also was not much of a sense of how they were adjusting to their freedom, freedom that could be taken away again.
The book felt flat and rarely dived into the emotions a book like this needed to explore. There were some strange disconnects, such as Harriet needing to get important information to a general, but lounging about for four days until she did it.
That said, it never got bad enough that I gave up on it. But only half of this book was interesting, and that half that was uninteresting was a missed opportunity to develop more rounded characters and a feel for what people on the Sea Islands might have been feeling during uncertain times.
"The Tubman Command" focuses on Harriet Tubman's service as a soldier during the Civil War rather than her time leading people to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Set in South Carolina in the Sea Islands, this book alternated between being very slow to having moments where it picked up and I would think it was finally hitting its stride, before slowing down once more. The interesting parts involved Harriet going behind enemy lines to get information and dealing with racism and sexism. The uninteresting parts were when they were strategizing and the romance between Harriet and another scout. From the other reviews I've read, writing in Harriet and Samuel's romance was rather unpopular and it did feel like a distraction. While it did highlight the complex family arrangements people who were enslaved were forced into, I felt there could have been more interesting ways to present it to the reader.
There was also a lot of missed opportunities. Septima was a poorly realized character who spent most of her time pushing Harriet to pursue a relationship with Samuel...or any man. Meanwhile, I was wondering what would it be like for Septima, currently pregnant with a child who would be born into freedom rather than slavery, unlike her other children? Or living with the fear that, should the Union lose the war, her freedom and that of her children's may be temporary?
While Samuel was motivated to free his family from the plantation they were on and had that desperation feed into his character, the rest of the freed people on the Sea Islands seemed rather carefree and unconcerned about how the war was going. There also was not much of a sense of how they were adjusting to their freedom, freedom that could be taken away again.
The book felt flat and rarely dived into the emotions a book like this needed to explore. There were some strange disconnects, such as Harriet needing to get important information to a general, but lounging about for four days until she did it.
That said, it never got bad enough that I gave up on it. But only half of this book was interesting, and that half that was uninteresting was a missed opportunity to develop more rounded characters and a feel for what people on the Sea Islands might have been feeling during uncertain times.
April 7, 2019
3++
“Liberty or death. And I made my choice.”
The year is 1863, and a black woman who escaped from slavery is responsible for masterminding a plan for Union soldiers, most of them “colored” troops, to invade several plantations along the Combahee River in South Carolina to wreak havoc, demoralize the locals, and free hundreds of slaves, many of whom can be recruited to increase the power of the Union army in the future. Sounds like great fiction, but this is history. Historian Elizabeth Cobbs’ novel, The Tubman Command, recounts a real-life episode in the career of Harriet Tubman, known as “Moses” for bringing so many of her people to the Promised Land of freedom.
This is Harriet’s story, but it is also the story of the American struggle to bring freedom to slaves throughout the United States. Although the storyline vividly describes the raid and the planning that led up to it, a great deal of attention is given to the experiences of slaves and former slaves. It is heart-wrenching to hear about slaves being treated essentially as breeding animals and later being separated from spouses whom they have come to love or their own children, who might be sold to another plantation. Even the Union army that has come to free them refers to them as “contraband” rather than people.
The book starts out as very interesting historical narrative. I learned a lot about the atmosphere of the war, although, as someone with admittedly superficial knowledge of Civil War history, especially military history, I also found some of it a bit confusing. Harriet Tubman was certainly a valuable asset to the Union cause; as a result, Cobbs tells us, she had a “reward of twelve thousand dollars offered for her in Maryland and will probably be burned alive whenever she is caught.” Then, the story element kicked in strong, and I started to see Harriet as a person, not just a symbol, and to care about what happened to her and not just her cause. It was disturbing and shocking to hear that she suffered throughout her life from brain trauma inflicted by an overseer who beat her when she was a girl. Her commitment to the cause of freeing her people involved immense personal sacrifices, including leaving her husband, a free black whom she had married out of love (but with her owner’s permission) and who refused to leave with her. “She’d walked out on John without saying goodbye….Deep down she’d known John would never get over the hurt of her wordless disappearance….The rupture wasn’t only his fault. It was hers, too.” There is also some love interest during the planning and execution of the raid to show us that even “Moses” was human.
Cobbs had access to a lot of primary sources, and as a good historian, she gives the reader an Author’s Note to tell us what is real and what she had to fill in. Unfortunately, Tubman was illiterate and could not leave us a journal. I found some of the little factoids especially interesting, like Harriet’s stay with Louisa May Alcott’s family while she was working the Underground Railroad. The romance was one of the fictional aspects, but it added nicely to the story interest and was not at all implausible.
Cobbs has fulfilled her roles as both historian and story teller and brought to life the woman who was Harriet Tubman.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advance review copy of this book.
“Liberty or death. And I made my choice.”
The year is 1863, and a black woman who escaped from slavery is responsible for masterminding a plan for Union soldiers, most of them “colored” troops, to invade several plantations along the Combahee River in South Carolina to wreak havoc, demoralize the locals, and free hundreds of slaves, many of whom can be recruited to increase the power of the Union army in the future. Sounds like great fiction, but this is history. Historian Elizabeth Cobbs’ novel, The Tubman Command, recounts a real-life episode in the career of Harriet Tubman, known as “Moses” for bringing so many of her people to the Promised Land of freedom.
This is Harriet’s story, but it is also the story of the American struggle to bring freedom to slaves throughout the United States. Although the storyline vividly describes the raid and the planning that led up to it, a great deal of attention is given to the experiences of slaves and former slaves. It is heart-wrenching to hear about slaves being treated essentially as breeding animals and later being separated from spouses whom they have come to love or their own children, who might be sold to another plantation. Even the Union army that has come to free them refers to them as “contraband” rather than people.
The book starts out as very interesting historical narrative. I learned a lot about the atmosphere of the war, although, as someone with admittedly superficial knowledge of Civil War history, especially military history, I also found some of it a bit confusing. Harriet Tubman was certainly a valuable asset to the Union cause; as a result, Cobbs tells us, she had a “reward of twelve thousand dollars offered for her in Maryland and will probably be burned alive whenever she is caught.” Then, the story element kicked in strong, and I started to see Harriet as a person, not just a symbol, and to care about what happened to her and not just her cause. It was disturbing and shocking to hear that she suffered throughout her life from brain trauma inflicted by an overseer who beat her when she was a girl. Her commitment to the cause of freeing her people involved immense personal sacrifices, including leaving her husband, a free black whom she had married out of love (but with her owner’s permission) and who refused to leave with her. “She’d walked out on John without saying goodbye….Deep down she’d known John would never get over the hurt of her wordless disappearance….The rupture wasn’t only his fault. It was hers, too.” There is also some love interest during the planning and execution of the raid to show us that even “Moses” was human.
Cobbs had access to a lot of primary sources, and as a good historian, she gives the reader an Author’s Note to tell us what is real and what she had to fill in. Unfortunately, Tubman was illiterate and could not leave us a journal. I found some of the little factoids especially interesting, like Harriet’s stay with Louisa May Alcott’s family while she was working the Underground Railroad. The romance was one of the fictional aspects, but it added nicely to the story interest and was not at all implausible.
Cobbs has fulfilled her roles as both historian and story teller and brought to life the woman who was Harriet Tubman.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advance review copy of this book.
April 9, 2019
"The Tubman Command" takes place in South Carolina, May 1863. It centers around Harriet Tubman, commander, military strategist and survivor who guided several men to freedom.
I learned quite a lot about Harriet - her higher spirit and remarkable courage is definitely inspiring and hopeful. All her acts and "success" were at the cost of her sacrifices about home and husband. Cobbs describes well her loneliness and isolation, in addition to the prejudice suffered by being a strong woman's voice among a place dominated by men. The war strategies and context were richly portrayed and realistic.
The epigrams that starts each chapter are a good illustration to the story, furthermore, they are based on original documents. I found the author's note utterly interesting and immersive. While this book had a great premise, I expected that the chapters could be less descriptive and more engaging. The storytelling was a bit slow and dragged. Sometimes it was hard to get into the book and the dialect, while being very real, didn't help me focus on the story.
Having said that, "The Tubman Command" is a historical fiction about Harriet Tubman- representing her as Joan of Arc who fought for her country.
[I received an ARC from the Skyhorse Publishing in exchange for an honest review]
I learned quite a lot about Harriet - her higher spirit and remarkable courage is definitely inspiring and hopeful. All her acts and "success" were at the cost of her sacrifices about home and husband. Cobbs describes well her loneliness and isolation, in addition to the prejudice suffered by being a strong woman's voice among a place dominated by men. The war strategies and context were richly portrayed and realistic.
The epigrams that starts each chapter are a good illustration to the story, furthermore, they are based on original documents. I found the author's note utterly interesting and immersive. While this book had a great premise, I expected that the chapters could be less descriptive and more engaging. The storytelling was a bit slow and dragged. Sometimes it was hard to get into the book and the dialect, while being very real, didn't help me focus on the story.
Having said that, "The Tubman Command" is a historical fiction about Harriet Tubman- representing her as Joan of Arc who fought for her country.
[I received an ARC from the Skyhorse Publishing in exchange for an honest review]
March 28, 2019
I enjoy historical fiction, especially when, as this did, it recounts events with which I was unfamiliar. The author brought the people and the times to life, and I found myself indignant on Harriet's behalf at the lack of respect and lack of human dignity with which she was often treated.
I appreciated that the author's note revealed how some parts of the novel (such as Kizzy's storyline), were inspired by small details from the historical record. I do wish there had been more information on what happened after the story. How many men enlisted? Did this help put an end to plantation culture in the area? What efforts, if any were made to help the newly freed ones start a new life?
What I didn't like about this novel was the love story. I can't begin to imagine all the pain and complications that arise when humans are treated like livestock. Still, this love story had the ring of infidelity, so I could not enjoy that storyline.
Thank you to BookishFirst for the early read.
I appreciated that the author's note revealed how some parts of the novel (such as Kizzy's storyline), were inspired by small details from the historical record. I do wish there had been more information on what happened after the story. How many men enlisted? Did this help put an end to plantation culture in the area? What efforts, if any were made to help the newly freed ones start a new life?
What I didn't like about this novel was the love story. I can't begin to imagine all the pain and complications that arise when humans are treated like livestock. Still, this love story had the ring of infidelity, so I could not enjoy that storyline.
Thank you to BookishFirst for the early read.
June 21, 2019
I was excited to see The Tubman Command: A Novelabout Harriet Tubman, as I find her such an interesting historical character and hope to see her face on the $20 bill. This is a novelization of Tubman's life during the civil war and was written and researched by noted historian Elizabeth Cobbs.
Harriet Tubman or Moses as she was often called was the first woman to lead an armed assault in the Civil War and this is the story about it. It was indeed an exciting and daring mission.
I really found this to be an enjoyable book and am glad to have found out about the role Tubman played in the Civil War.
Harriet Tubman or Moses as she was often called was the first woman to lead an armed assault in the Civil War and this is the story about it. It was indeed an exciting and daring mission.
I really found this to be an enjoyable book and am glad to have found out about the role Tubman played in the Civil War.
March 20, 2019
I enjoyed getting to know "Moses" Harriett Tubman in a way we've never seen her.
She's an incredible woman whose bravery and strength I admire. Those who came across her I considered blessed. I wish I could've met her and I will someday in heaven.
The only thing I didn't like was the cussing and sex scenes so I pretty much skipped those. I thought the story could've been told without all that. I think if it was a paperback i wouldn't have finishe reading it.
For the most part it was well written and the author pulled off some great scenes in this book.
I received a copy from Netgalley and no compensations were received. All opinions are my own
She's an incredible woman whose bravery and strength I admire. Those who came across her I considered blessed. I wish I could've met her and I will someday in heaven.
The only thing I didn't like was the cussing and sex scenes so I pretty much skipped those. I thought the story could've been told without all that. I think if it was a paperback i wouldn't have finishe reading it.
For the most part it was well written and the author pulled off some great scenes in this book.
I received a copy from Netgalley and no compensations were received. All opinions are my own
April 25, 2021
I didn’t know much about Harriet Tubman, except that I wanted to know more. Now I have made a small beginning with this amazing book about the courageous, extraordinary woman who saved so many lives. The book focuses on the largest plantation raid of the Civil War to free as many enslaved people as possible and to cause damage to the Confederate cause, which Harriet Tubman helped plan and lead. So Harriet Tubman, a key conductor on the Underground Railroad, also is a military spy and veteran and that is the role on which this historical fiction is based.
April 5, 2019
For readers and fans of Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad, The Tubman Command is a fascinating piece of historical fiction that is both inspiring and informative. Though it might veer quite far from the real story, It was really interesting to read a narrative that imagines Harriet Tubman in an entirely new context.
Elizabeth Cobbs' prose style flows and keeps one engaged while reading, in a really deft way. I was pleasantly surprised how much of a page turner it was, It kept me reading from the beginning until the end. I am very much looking forward to whatever comes next from Elizabeth Cobbs.
Also, the cover art is a really great piece of art, and it caught my eye from the very beginning.
Elizabeth Cobbs' prose style flows and keeps one engaged while reading, in a really deft way. I was pleasantly surprised how much of a page turner it was, It kept me reading from the beginning until the end. I am very much looking forward to whatever comes next from Elizabeth Cobbs.
Also, the cover art is a really great piece of art, and it caught my eye from the very beginning.
December 1, 2020
I'm sure this is a good book, but I think it just wasn't for me. The characters were interesting, but it just didn't hold my interest, so I put it down half way. Contemporary fiction readers are better suited for this.
January 26, 2019
Cobbs has hit this one out of the park, bringing Harriet Tubman to life through historical fiction in a way I've not read before. Each chapter begins with quotes taken from actual documentation of the time, from freed people, Army men, missionaries, etc. Although she takes a lot of license with the personal details, as Ms. Tubman could neither read nor write and didn't keep a diary, the historical events in the book, such as an even of thievery, and a rescue mission of more than 700 slaves on the Combahee actually occurred, and there are historical documents that indicate she was not only involved, but led the scouts that brought about the events. This book is moving, beautifully written, heartbreaking, and brings that time to life right off the page in painful detail. She truly was the Moses of her people. Elegantly written.
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