Gabriel de Tarde

Gabriel de Tarde is credited by Everett Rogers as one of his influences when he developed the concepts for his original 1962 book "Diffusion of Innovations." Tarde, as translated by Elsie Clews Parsons for this English-language edition, is an engaging writer and he liberally sprinkles his philosophical and social commentaries throughout this classic work.

In this reissue of the classic youth novel, Josh, a logger on the Ohio River, helps runaway slaves to freedom until he is betrayed, captured, and thrown in prison. “In an afterword the reader learns a bit about the sources Meltzer consulted--histories, autobiographies, first-person accounts, and religious and anti-slavery tracts, among others. All add to the historically accurate depiction of the danger, dedication, and perseverance that Josh shows.”--VOYA