The Roving Editor

The Roving Editor, volume 1, examines the historical validity of James Redpath's 1859 account of slavery in the United States. While working for the New York Tribune, Redpath traveled through the Southern states to interview enslaved people and document their lived experiences. This work of non-fiction focuses on the social conditions of the antebellum South, presenting first-hand testimonies that were previously dismissed by some historians as abolitionist fabrications.

John R. McKivigan utilizes unpublished correspondence and original newspaper articles to certify the authenticity of these encounters. By verifying the specific times and locations of Redpath's travels, this volume establishes The Roving Editor as a critical source of slave testimony. This scholarly analysis transforms a traditional description and travel narrative into a verified historical record of the American South.