ABSTRACT
The impact of David Brion Davis’s book The Problem of Slavery in the Age of Revolution, 1770–1823 has been limited to the fields of history and sociology and the sub-field of African American studies. Although The Problem of Slavery in the Age of Revolution is central to the modern study of slavery and antislavery, the book focuses on the Anglo-American experience. By the standards of current historiography this is a narrow approach; research now takes a broader view of slavery, looking further afield both geographically and chronologically. The link between capitalism and abolition is one of the book’s central ideas. Although slavery remains an emotive issue for many people, criticism of Davis’s work has been professional rather than motivated by personal hostility or ideological disagreement. Even Davis’s most persistent critics have praised his work as a major contribution to the field.
