James Oakes is a renowned historian, known for his path-breaking scholarship on nineteenth century America. His work has explored the history of the United States, covering topics from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War. Oakes has made significant contributions to the field of history through his numerous essays and books.
In his early career, Oakes focused on the South of the United States, examining slavery as a social and economic system that shaped life in the region. His earliest works, including "The Destruction of Slavery in the United States" and "The Ruling Race," have earned him recognition and awards such as the Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize. This prestigious award is given annually for fine scholarship on the American Civil War in English.
James Oakes is the author of several acclaimed books on slavery and the Civil War. His most recent book, "Freedom National," won the Lincoln Prize and was a long-list selection for the National Book Award. Oakes' work has earned him a reputation as a leading historian in his field, and he continues to reside in New York City.
Non-Fiction Books
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Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Ruling Race: A History of American Slaveholders
1982
2
Slavery and Freedom: An Interpretation of the Old South
1990
3
The Oakes Diaries: Business, Politics, and the Family in Bury St Edmunds, 1778-1827
1991
4
The Radical and the Republican: Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, and the Triumph of Antislavery Politics
2007
5
Of the People: A History of the United States
2009
6
Freedom National: The Destruction of Slavery in the United States, 1861-1865
2012
7
The Scorpion's Sting: Antislavery and the Coming of the Civil War
2014
8
When You Walk Through A Storm: A heartbreaking true life story, chronicling how two people struggle for survival against all the odds.
2021
9
The Crooked Path to Abolition: Abraham Lincoln and the Antislavery Constitution
2021
James Oakes Anthologies
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Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Beyond Freedom: Disrupting the History of Emancipation
2017
2
The Worlds of James Buchanan and Thaddeus Stevens: Place, Personality, and Politics in the Civil War Era
2019
3
Knowing Him by Heart: African Americans on Abraham Lincoln