LAMB'S WARRIOR: The Life of Isaac T. Hopper

by Margaret Hope Bacon ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 20, 1970

Anecdotes of early pranks, ""Tales of Oppression"" and how he countered it, his public ""disownment"" by the Quakers for abolitionist zeal and the fruits of his prisoner-redemption post--these were Isaac Hopper's legacy to his original biographer, Lydia Maria Child, through her to Mrs. Bacon, thence (verified where possible) to the reader: it makes for an intimate, articulate, energetic book. That for Hopper ""action preceded reflection"" is demonstrated especially by his help to fugitive slaves and free blacks caught by kidnappers: no inconvenience or danger deterred him, no ruse or legal stratagem escaped him. And whereas in late 18th century Philadelphia, particularly among the Quakers, there was wide sympathy for emancipation, indeed belief that it was inevitable, by 1811 the mood had changed, the boat was not to be rocked--and Hopper's virtual bankruptcy became a disgrace to his fellows; as one advocate put it, ""The Bible requires us to love our neighbors as well as ourselves, and Friend Isaac loved them better."" Many years later (1841), after the Hicksite schism, even that liberal branch would abjure abolitionist agitation, and when Hopper would not, he was disowned again. "". . . but I have not disowned the Society of Friends,"" was his response, nor at eighty did he waver when a black woman was turned away from a bus: in a driving rain, he got off, the next day confronted the company. Then there is the father--at one time of twelve from thirty-five to infancy--who made good times of good works, the householder who kept his open--at the last to fallen women, which led to establishment of the first halfway house for women prisoners. If the book errs, it is in being too thorough (about the activities of his: offspring, especially), but Mrs. Brown's desire to make the only contemporary biography of Hopper a full one is understandable.

Pub Date: April 20, 1970

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: T. Y. Crowell

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1970

Categories: NONFICTION