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Every two months we invite you to read and review the Doncaster Read. 

Following our launch of the Doncaster Read in May 2014 we have featured many different authors, genres and series of books to promote reading for pleasure. Our first Doncaster Read was Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks to mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War. We have since featured authors to coincide with the publication of a new book or film adaptation of a book. At other times our display features a selection of books by different authors on the same theme. The Doncaster Read display provides a focus to try a book you may not normally pick from the shelves.

We hope you will enjoy our selection and start talking about books you have read through the ‘Doncaster Read'. We’d like to hear what you think about the books and authors we’ve chosen and let other readers know what you think about the book. To get involved you can loan or reserve the chosen ‘Doncaster Read' from your library and there may also be e-books available online.

Introducing our November & December Doncaster Read

Slavery

Following on from Black History Month and Anti-Slavery Day in October, our Doncaster Read this time looks at slavery throughout history and links to the release of the new film, Harriet, on 22nd November, depicting the life of American Abolitionist Harriet Tubman.

Born into slavery in 1820, Harriet suffered pain and injury at the hands of her masters. She managed to escape to freedom in 1849, but returned to the South many times to help free others. She became what the New York Times called “the Underground Railroad’s most famous Conductor”, leading slaves, known as ‘packages or freight’ to freedom via secret ‘lines’ to safe houses or ‘stations’ in North America and Canada, where slavery was prohibited. She went on to work as an armed scout and spy for the Union army during the American Civil War, being part of a military operation that freed more than 700 slaves. Harriet was buried with military honours after her death in 1913. Sadly, despite the continued courage and dedication of others following in her wake, the fight to abolish slavery is still ongoing.

 Browse our books on slavery to find out more…

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