"A Plea for Captain John Brown" by Henry David Thoreau is an essay first delivered as a speech on October 30, 1859, two weeks after abolitionist John Brown's failed raid on Harpers Ferry. Speaking against widespread public condemnation, Thoreau defends Brown as a moral hero rather than a madman, comparing his impending execution to Christ's crucifixion. The essay challenges Americans who dismiss Brown's actions, arguing that his commitment to justice represents true sanity and courage in the face of state-sponsored injustice. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
These books are free to read. Each is in the public domain in the United States; check your own country's rules before you copy or share one.
