"The story of the fascinating, fraught alliance among Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, and Maria Weston Chapman -- and how its breakup led to the success of America's most important social movement. In the crucial early years of the Abolition movement, the Boston branch of the cause seized upon the star power of the eloquent ex-slave Frederick Douglass to make its case for slaves' freedom. Journalist William Lloyd Garrison promoted emancipation while Garrison loyalist Maria Weston Chapman, known as "the Contessa," raised money and managed Douglass's speaking tour from her Boston townhouse. Conventional histories have seen Douglass's departure for the New York wing of the Abolition party as a result of a rift between Douglass and Garrison. But, as acclaimed historian Linda Hirshman reveals, this completely misses the woman in power. Weston Chapman wrote cutting letters to Douglass, doubting his loyalty; the Bostonian abolitionists were shot through with racist prejudice, even aiming the N-word at Douglass among themselves. Through incisive, original analysis, Hirshman convinces that the inevitable breakup was in fact a successful failure. Eventually, as the most sought-after Black activist in America, Douglass was able to dangle the prize of his endorsement over the Republican Party's candidate for President, Abraham Lincoln. Two years later the abolition of slavery -- if not the abolition of racism -- became immutable law." --Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 279-314) and index.

Author's note -- Introduction: Meeting on Nantucket -- Part I: Allies arise -- Printer Garrison learns his trade -- Manager Weston Chapman comes of age -- Garrison will be heard -- The enslaved write their history -- Frederick Douglass's history in slavery -- Frederick Douglass's escape -- Part II: Abolition takes root -- David Walker appeals and Garrison hears -- Starting the black and white antislavery societies -- A national movement emerges -- The Liberator will be read -- Maria Weston Chapman takes the reins -- Antislavery on the march -- Moral Garrison splits with the politicos -- Part III: The Grand Alliance at work -- Douglass joins Garrison -- The façade and the cracks in the Alliance -- Political abolition pulls on Garrisonians -- The cracks widen -- Douglass writes and Garrison publishes -- Frederick Douglass, international superstar and publisher -- Part IV: Douglass to the political side -- Slave power rises and abolition power rises -- The private lives of public activists -- Compromise makes conflict worse -- Douglass recruits the Constitution -- Part V: Douglass and Garrison divide -- The political divorce -- The personal divorce -- Epilogue: Three meetings and a funeral. -- Ackowledgments -- A note on Sources -- Notes - -Index.