Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad

Foner, one of America's favorite modern historians, lives up to his well-deserved prestige yet again. Writing a story that does not have the same large document base as some of his other works, this short history is still compelling. He explains what the Underground Railroad actually was, how it operated, and who did the work. Characters familiar and new are examined in this book, and it adds to the legend of figures like Harriet Tubman, while revealing much about more names that aren't as revered, such as Sydney Howard Gay, Louis Napoleon, and William Still, among many others. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in how the Underground Railroad actually operated, so the engaging history that evolved into folklore is better understood.