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Title: Overrated
Review: I don't understand all the acclaim for this book. It raises a few interesting issues and provides a little information on race and gender relations in the pre-Civil War south, but that's all. As far as the story of Celia herself goes, the author provides remarkably little detail. In fact, I have never read any "history" with so many admissions that the author doesn't know the facts. Instead, he repeatedly speculates on what likely happened after admitting there is no evidence on the point. And as far as the broader picture of slavery goes, most of it is pretty cusory and often it is simplistic. Still, I give it two stars instead of one for the few interesting points and because the underlying story of Celia is both important and interesting.
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