The Last Abolition : The Brazilian Antislavery Movement, 1868–1888

This new interpretation of the Brazilian anti-slavery narrative, placing Brazil within the global network of nineteenth-century abolitionist activism, uncovers the broad history of Brazilian anti-slavery activists and the trajectory of their work. The Last Abolition is a major contribution to scholarship on the ending of slavery in Brazil.

Seamlessly entwining archival research and sociological debates, The Last Abolition is a lively and engaging historical narrative that uncovers the broad history of Brazilian anti-slavery activists and the trajectory of their work, from earnest beginnings to eventual abolition. In detailing their principles, alliances and conflicts, Angela Alonso offers a new interpretation of the Brazilian anti-slavery network which, combined, forged a national movement to challenge the entrenched pro-slavery status quo. While placing Brazil within the abolitionist political mobilization of the nineteenth century, the book explores the relationships between Brazilian and foreign abolitionists, demonstrating how ideas and strategies transcended borders. Available for the first time in an English language edition, with a new introduction, this award-winning volume is a major contribution to the scholarship on abolition and abolitionists.