Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom

Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey From Slavery to Freedom (2023) by Ilyon Woo recounts the true story of William and Ellen Craft, an enslaved couple who traveled across the world to gain freedom. Ellen, disguised as a sick white enslaver, and William, pretending to be her enslaved caretaker, traveled in plain sight from Macon, Georgia, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in pursuit of freedom. The couple became a symbol for the abolitionist movement, facing significant risk to share their story with others. William and Ellen became well-known across the globe and traveled to England to continue their anti-slavery activism. Woo is a New York Times best-selling author. Master Slave Husband Wife was named one of The New York Times’s “10 Best Books of 2023” and one of People’s “Top Ten Books of 2023.” The work has also been named “best book” by prestigious publications, such as The New Yorker and Smithsonian.

This guide refers to the 2023 hardcover edition by Simon & Schuster.

Content Warning: The source material and this guide include descriptions of racism, enslavement, violence, and sex trafficking. The source material’s historical accounts use outdated and offensive terms, which this guide replicates only in quotations.

Summary

Ilyon Woo’s award-winning work Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey From Slavery to Freedom details the journey of a young, enslaved couple who traveled to the North in pursuit of freedom. Defying a racist legal system and braving untold violence, William and Ellen Craft left their enslavers in Macon, Georgia, during the early hours of the morning in 1848. With Ellen disguised as an enslaver and William playing the part of her doting enslaved caretaker, the couple faced extreme danger in their pursuit of freedom.

After their incredible journey, the couple became involved in anti-slavery activism and shared their story across the world. Woo carefully details their experiences using historical records and the Crafts’ own writing. Although the work reads like a novel, Woo explains that no part of the narrative is fictional—even the dialogue comes directly from historical artifacts. Woo’s work centers on three themes: The Enduring Nature of Love, The Perseverance of True Faith, and The Exploitation and Subversion of Bias.

In Parts 2-3, William and Ellen prepare to leave early on a December morning in 1848. Using the money William has carefully saved from his work as a cabinetmaker, the couple have purchased and sewn clothing items to transform Ellen into an enslaver. William’s unique trade and courage enabled him to contract himself out to others, putting money in the pocket of his enslaver and leaving a little to set aside for the couple’s freedom journey. William and Ellen hope that the expensive outfit and Ellen’s light skin will convince others that she is an enslaver with disabilities named Mr. Johnson. William and Ellen board a train—each in cars reflecting their status in a racially divided society. While on the train, Ellen runs into a familiar face: A man who dined the night before at her enslaver’s mansion sits next to her on the train, but she evades his attention by pretending to be deaf.

Parts 4-5 follow the couple to Charleston, South Carolina. In this city, William and Ellen are surrounded by monuments to the slave trade, reminders of what they hope to leave behind. They draw suspicion on their travels, but both William and Ellen use their intelligence to trick other passengers into believing their cover story. Ellen, pretending to be the ailing Mr. Johnson, makes a show of illness, and William treats his fake enslaver with care and loyalty. After several trials, they land in Philadelphia, a free city. However, they soon learn that it is not safe for them to stop. Their enslavers may take them back to the South at any time. While in Philadelphia, they make new friends. Inspired by the activists they meet, William and Ellen decide to alter their course and share their stories with others on the lecture circuit.

Parts 6-7 detail the final parts of the Crafts’ journey. The couple takes a steamboat to North Carolina and a series of trains to Virginia. From there, they travel to Philadelphia. Along the way, they encounter suspicion and recognize that their enslavers will be aware of their escape. When they finally reach the free city of Philadelphia, they learn that they are not entirely liberated. Rising tensions over the fugitive slave laws make it dangerous for them to linger in New England. However, William and Ellen meet an activist named William Wells Brown who convinces the couple that their story is one the nation needs to hear.

In Parts 8-9, William and Ellen gain fame in Boston as they travel to different venues, sharing the stories of their time in slavery and their escape. Crowds are immediately drawn to the couple, and the Crafts help to bolster the growing anti-slavery movement. Meanwhile, lawmakers emphasize the Fugitive Slave Act and the duties of American Northerners to uphold the Constitution. Robert Collins sends two men to arrest William and Ellen and return them to the South. However, the people of Boston act against the men and keep William and Ellen safe. To continue their advocacy work, the couple decides to travel to England to spread their message.

Parts 10-12 detail William and Ellen’s final years. The couple makes a difficult voyage from Canada to Europe. Rather than settling in England, they continue their advocacy work, traveling around England and Scotland to share their story. The couple eventually settle in Ockham, where they work as teachers of cabinetmaking and sewing and obtain their education. William and Ellen then move to London, and each has the opportunity to develop personal reputations and self-identities. They eventually return to the United States, and Ellen reunites with her mother.