If you could free someone from slavery only by lying and breaking the law, would you do it?
Many American Quakers (and others) faced this choice in the 1800s (until the Emancipation Proclamation outlawed slavery in 1863)—should they help enslaved people escape to freedom via the Underground Railroad?
Quakers valued every human.
So why would they have conflicting views about participating in the Underground Railroad’s efforts to smuggle escaped slaves to freedom?
The Last Runaway, by Tracy Chevalier, provides hints as it follows the journey of Honor, a young English Quaker who accompanies her fiancéed sister to the U.S. and settles near Oberlin, Ohio (an area of Quaker settlements, including Oberlin College).
This novel, set in the antebellum era, shows the surprising turns of Honor’s life as she confronts the realities of slavery, unexpected challenges, and wrenching decisions. The Last Runaway portrays Underground Railroad participants (and their opponents) as complex, fallible individuals facing danger and difficult choices (far from depictions as one-dimensional heroes).
Women immigrants’ fraught position in this era emerges clearly in this novel. When a foreign-born woman found herself alone in the U.S., even within an established community from her original culture, she was likely to face extremely limited choices:
- In the best situation, she would marry a kind, compatible man
- Frequently women had to marry whomever was locally available
- If marriage wasn’t an option, she could survive only by becoming a servant or prostitute
Characters:
- Honor Bright, the protagonist—I admired this young English Quaker who travels to America with her sister. She survives major shocks and increasingly takes agency of her life.
- Donovan—the villain, a slave catcher who is romantically interested in Honor. Occasionally, he shows a spark of humanity, making readers wonder if his feelings for Honor will turn him into a hero.
- Belle Mills—Donovan’s sister, an intelligent, free-spirited woman in many ways the opposite of her brother; she runs a millinery shop. In many ways, she’s the true heroine of the story because of the sacrifices she makes for others.
- Judith Haymaker—Quaker matriarch; she appears cold and heartless, until readers learn her backstory.
- Jack Haymaker—Judith’s young adult son; the story shows his maturing process, over time making his character more sympathetic.
- Mrs. Reed—formerly enslaved woman who escaped, settled in Ohio and assisted Underground Railroad; her initial wariness and evolving relationship with Honor reveal the complexity of her character, as well as how Honor matures. Her strength and hard-earned wisdom eventually made her a sympathetic character.
Strengths:
The Last Runaway is a poignant story of how individuals dealt with the harsh realities of their times. The specific details bring to life the setting and era.
Weakness:
Given the extreme risks of participation in the Underground Railroad, the author’s portrayal of several of the Quaker characters in a negative light, relative to their sympathy for Honor or their position on helping slaves escape, seems a bit harsh.
Content review:
This is a story for adults, with sexual content woven into the story.
Recommendation:
The Last Runaway is a fascinating but emotionally difficult novel, forcing readers to consider how they would have navigated the few choices and stark consequences Honor found in the U.S. in the mid-1800s. I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy such a challenge.
Reader, two questions for you:
- Would you have risked your future or even your life to help an enslaved person escape to freedom?
- Have you read other novels about the Underground Railroad that you recommend?