The Tubman Command: A Novel

(Hardback)

Available Formats

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

From the bestselling author of The Hamilton Affair, a novel based on a thrilling chapter of Civil War history and African American history, how Harriet Tubman lead a Union raid to free 750 slaves. It's May 1863. Outgeneraled and outgunned, a demoralized Union Army has pulled back with massive losses at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Fort Sumter, hated symbol of the Rebellion, taunts the American navy with its artillery and underwater mines. In Beaufort, South Carolina, one very special woman, code named Moses, is hatching a spectacular plan. Hunted by Confederates, revered by slaves, Harriet Tubman plots an expedition behind enemy lines to liberate hundreds of bondsmen and recruit them as soldiers. A bounty on her head, she has given up husband and home for the noblest cause: a nation of, by, and for the people. The Tubman Command tells the story of Tubman at the height of her powers, when she devises the largest plantation raid of the Civil War. General David Hunter places her in charge of a team of black scouts even though skeptical of what one woman can accomplish. For her gamble to succeed, "Moses" must outwit alligators, overseers, slave catchers, sharpshooters, and even hostile Union soldiers to lead gunships up the Combahee River. Men stand in her way at every turn--though one reminds her that love shouldn't have to be the price of freedom. It's the perfect read before going to see the big new movie about Harriet Tubman, Harriet (November 2019) starring Kasi Lemmons, Cynthia Erivo, and Janelle Monae.

Reviews

In Praise of the TUBMAN COMMAND:
"For reasons unknown, the U.S. Treasury appears to have shelved plans to put Tubman on the $20 bill. For those responsible for the decision, this book ought to be assigned reading." The Wall Street Journal

"Elizabeth Cobbs novel The Tubman Command takes a close-up view of a fascinating yet neglected episode in both Tubmans career and the Civil War. Cobbs lively narrative fleshes out our understanding of Tubman as a woman while offering vivid portrayals of life in bondage, war-time strategies and Americas knotty racial legacy." Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Cobbs brings this little-known history of Tubman and her role in the Combahee River Raid to vivid life. Meticulously researched and carefully written, The Tubman Command is a true story with the pacing and suspense of a mystery novel. Cobbs takes the reader right into the anxious uncertainty of the occupied South in the midst of the Civil War alongside one of historys most fascinating and complex figures. Through Cobbs pen, Harriet Tubman becomes more than a legendary historical figure; she becomes an irresistible and compelling character."Historical Novel Society

If you think you know all about Harriet Tubman, think againthis novel brings her alive as only fiction can. With a historian's grasp of detail, Elizabeth Cobbs spins a gripping tale of romance, wartime spies, and daring escapes. The story of Harriet Tubmans leadership of black troops behind enemy lines, The Tubman Command illuminates the unfathomable bravery of people fighting for liberty and the birth of a better nation. Harriet emerges from these pages as a brilliant strategist, master of psychology, and a fully-rounded woman whose legendary heroism has made her a cherished American icon. Kate Manning, author, My Notorious Life

Cobbs is that rare writer who possesses both the uncanny eye of the historian and the dynamism of a natural storyteller. By the last chapter I was breathless and near tears, captivated by the true tale of one woman who railed against injustice and changed the course of history. Fiona Davis, national best-selling author of The Masterpiece

A phenomenal piece of writing which humanizes one of Americas most beloved icons and shows a different side of a woman whom many think they already know. Edda L. Fields-Black, Author of `Combee: Harriet Tubman and the Combahee River Raid (Forthcoming)

Cobbs paints a vivid portrait of Tubman at the heart of one of the most innovative, daring, and dangerous missions of the Civil War. The heroic and brilliant Tubman is brought vividly to life as a flesh-and-blood woman and a strong and cunning leader in this compelling and instructive fictional tribute. Booklist

Rich historical detail adds texture, but the highlight is Harriet, a woman who repeatedly risks her life for the freedom of others. [A] terrific portrait of Tubman. Publishers Weekly

A stirring fictional tribute. -- Kirkus

Author Bio

An award-winning novelist, historian, and documentary filmmaker, Elizabeth Cobbs is the author of eight books, including the New York Times bestselling novel, The Hamilton Affair, and The Hello Girls: America's First Women Soldiers, which has been made into a musical. Elizabeth earned her Ph.D. in American history at Stanford University. She holds the Melbern Glasscock Chair at Texas A&M University and is a Senior Fellow at Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution. She lives in La Mesa, California.