William Wilberforce was a key figure in Adam Hochschild's 2005 Bury the Chains
. Now the British antislavery campaigner gets his own well-deserved biography in this clearly written, sympathetic work by Hague (William Pitt the Younger
), a member of Britain's shadow cabinet. A longtime legislator and close associate of William Pitt the Younger, Wilberforce (1759–1833) became convinced of the righteousness of abolition after becoming an evangelical Christian in 1785. Hague devotes some attention to Wilberforce's personal life, but devotes the lion's share of his book to his subject's political activity. A noted speaker, Wilberforce was also amiable and a dogged negotiator, traits that served him well during his decades-long effort. His campaign paid off twice, first in 1807, when Britain abolished the slave trade, and then, just months before his death in 1833, with the abolition of slavery. Hague provides plenty of historical context about Britain's involvement in the slave trade and British domestic affairs, making this rewarding reading for those interested in the history of Britain as well as the history of the battle for equality and justice. 24 pages of b&w photos. (June)
