Bury the Chains
Bury the Chains is a non-fiction book by Adam Hochschild that tells the story of the British anti-slavery movement. First published in 2005, it follows a small group of abolitionist activists as they worked to end slavery in Britain's empire, from the Somerset v Stewart case in 1772 to full emancipation in 1838.
The book centers on figures like Granville Sharp, Thomas Clarkson, John Newton, William Wilberforce, and Olaudah Equiano. Hochschild shows how the campaign faced major setbacks during the 1790s and early 1800s, a time of war and revolution, but explains how activists kept the effort alive through tactics such as boycotting slave-made sugar, publishing pamphlets, organizing petitions, fundraising, and building national organizations with local branches.
The title comes from a story in Jamaica in which newly emancipated slaves buried their chains in a churchyard after emancipation in 1838. Hochschild originally planned to write about Newton but realized the larger story was the abolition movement itself, with Clarkson playing a central but often underappreciated role.
The book is written in a lively, narrative style that many readers find engaging and uplifting. Some critics felt it could be lacking in depth or overly shaped by Hochschild’s liberal views, while others praised its vivid portrayal of the campaign and its flaws. It won several awards, including the 2005 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for History and the 2006 Lionel Gelber Prize; it was also a finalist for other major prizes and received additional honors such as a California Book Award and a PEN Center USA award.
Beyond telling history, Bury the Chains has inspired some modern activists, who see parallels between the antislavery movement and today’s campaigns, such as those addressing climate change. Hochschild argues that the main lessons are the power of coalitions across diverse groups and the importance of clear, effective messaging.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 10:29 (CET).