Editor's Overview

Frederick J. Blue's "The Moral Journey of a Political Abolitionist: Salmon P. Chase and His Critics" provides a revisionist look at a famous leader. Blue, who authored a seminal biography of Chase, contends that few scholars have given this powerful politician credit for his tireless efforts to fight for the end of slavery and racial equality.

J. Brent Morris's " 'All the truly wise or truly pious have one and the same end in view': Oberlin, the West, and Abolitionist Schism" stresses the significance of western abolitionists and the role they played in the broader national movement to end slavery. Morris's article, like Blue's, asks historians to reassess long-held assumptions about leading players in the antislavery crusade.

Our Book Review section highlights several new studies by prominent Civil War historians including George Rable, Stephanie McCurry, Elizabeth Varon, Joseph Glatthaar, and J. Matthew Gallman. We are also introducing two new features to the Book Review section: "Book Notes," which will provide short summaries on selected works and recently released paperback editions, and "Books Received," a list of titles sent to our editorial office of interest to our readers. Keep a look out for media, film, and exhibit reviews, which will appear in forthcoming issues.