Marcus Rediker

It was a great pleasure to work with Sarah Bachman (artist, at left) and Michelle Markel (co-author, center) on the launch of our children’s book, *Fearless Benjamin* (Lay) at the Abington Quaker Meeting House Tuesday evening. Special thanks to Loretta Maguire Fox and Lee Hall!

We will hold the launch of our children’s book, *Fearless Benjamin* (PM Press), this evening, Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 6:00 pm at the Abington Quaker Meeting House, where Benjamin Lay worshipped and where he is buried. See the flyer below for more info. Please join us!

“Labor & Art” in Homestead, Pennsylvania | LAWCHA I am a historian who studied with David Montgomery at the University of Pittsburgh in the mid-1970s, a tumultuous time in labor and working-class history.

Ron Schatz wrote an excellent piece about the exhibition "Labor and Art," made from art in the collection of dear friends, Joe and Delsa White. In the Bost Building, 623 East 8th Ave., Homestead, PA, until Dec. 23, MWF 10 am - 12 noon and by appointment. Check it out!

lawcha.org/2025/11/04/l...

Artist Leah Gordon’s exhibition, “Monument to the Vanquished Peasant,” is now up and running at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry through Jan. 26, 2026. Leah designed a special wallpaper for the show, featuring the many-headed hydra. I love it!

www.theherbert.org/news/333/a-n...

I have, and loved it.

In Bologna tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 6:30 pm I will be in conversation with my dear friend Matilde Cazzola about “history from below” at the Libreria modo infoshop, via Mascarella, 24/b. Join us!

www.facebook.com/events/79022...

1606

Must see that one!

😂😂 Thanks, Justin!

Last week I saw another painting by Caravaggio in person: “Supper at Emmaus” (1606), at the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan. For his technical mastery, innovative methods, and psychological/emotional depth, I regard him as the world’s greatest painter. I wish I could write history the way he paints.

Next Thursday, October 30, in Milan, at 6:30 pm, I will speak, at the invitation of my friend and editor Raf Scelsi, on the theme “Piracy and the Maritime Origins of the Working Class.” Join us at the Shake Bookshop, Via Ingegnoli 13.

La storia dal basso: origini, metodi e sviluppi La storia dal basso: origini, metodi e sviluppi di un originale sguardo sulla ricerca storica

Next week in Milan, Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 7:00 pm, I will meet with the excellent historian Carlo Greppi and members of the research group "Laboratorio Lapsus” to discuss “history from below.” The event is organized by my publisher, elèuthera editrice.
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Register here: shorturl.at/kjq2A and join us!

The smile on my face as I lectured at the University of St. Thomas two weeks ago says it all. I had a great time on my visit, thanks to Kanishka Chowdhury, his colleagues, and his students.

We offer through @pmpress.bsky.social a special discount on our children’s book, *Fearless Benjamin: The Quaker Dwarf who Fought Slavery*, co-written with Michelle Markel and illustrated by Sarah Bachman. Use OCTOBER at checkout for a 20% discount.

pmpress.org/index.php?l=...

Also from my collection, the great Haitian artist, Frantz Zéphirin's painting entitled *The Spirit of the Indian Facing Colonization*, depicting the Spanish ship, *Conquistador*; the mask of red death killing an indigenous woman; and the face of the African who will replace her.

As many of you know, I collect Haitian art. The most famous painting in my collection is Frantz Zephirin’s *The Slave Ship Brooks*, which has been exhibited around the world, including the 2022 Venice Biennale. Here are photos of the painting and of Frantz when he had just completed it.

Benjamin Lay republished “The Selling of Joseph” in 1738, but I am not aware of any other printings.

Thank, Seth. Congratulations on your well-deserved book prize!

A Horrific Tale of the Slave Trade, Destined to Become a Classic

Here is a review I wrote for the *New York Times*.

A Horrific Tale of the Slave Trade, Destined to Become a Classic www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/b...

Here is a lovely blog post by @leehall.bsky.social, for our book launch of *Fearless Benjamin*, Tues., Nov 11. I love the title: "It’s Never Too Late to Have a Truth-Filled Childhood.” Please mark your calendars, spread the word, and join us for the event!

www.radnorquakers.net/its-never-to...

Happy to say, we have and will continue to do so. The actor in our play, *The Return of Benjamin Lay*, was Mark Povinelli, past president of LPA. We performed a reading of the play at the LPA convention in Baltimore in 2024.

FHA is very pleased to announce that registration is now open for our annual fall event!

Please join us online Sunday, 16 November for a book talk given by Professor Marcus Rediker featuring his new work, Freedom Ship: The Uncharted History of Escaping Slavery by Sea @marcusrediker.bsky.social

Sarah is brilliant, literally and figuratively!

Thanks, Thom!

Thank you, Ali. Ben Lay is coming back from the dead to inspire us!

It’s publication day! Our children’s book, *Fearless Benjamin: The Quaker Dwarf who Fought Slavery*, co-written with Michelle Markel and illustrated by Sarah Bachman, is out today with @pmpress.bsky.social. Use BEN! at checkout for a 20% discount. Help spread the word!

pmpress.org/index.php?l=...

Escaping Over Water | KPFA In the decades leading up to the Civil War, enslaved people who traveled to freedom on foot did so mainly from Southern states that bordered free states. But those in the deep South didn’t have that o...

I loved listening to this interview @marcusrediker.bsky.social did on @kpfa.org about his new book *Freedom Ship*! Rediker tells the inspiring history of enslaved Black people in the U.S. deep South who escaped by ship with the help of free Black communities and abolitionist white sailors.

Thank you, Chris!

I’ll apply.

It was my great pleasure last night to speak, along with James Robinson, organizer Peter Rachleff, Walter Greason, and Ben Mchie at the East Side Freedom Library, an inspiring community center and liberated zone in St. Paul, MN! Thanks to Ry Siggelkow for the photo.