Ilyon Woo
Ilyon Woo is a historian and author known for her compelling, deeply researched narratives that illuminate lesser-known figures in American history. Her most recent book, Master Slave Husband Wife, chronicles the harrowing true story of Ellen and William Craft’s daring escape from slavery. Woo’s writing blends rigorous scholarship with vivid storytelling, making historical nonfiction as engaging as fiction. Her previous work, The Great Divorce, explored a sensational 19th-century custody case. With a focus on race, gender, and justice, Woo brings forgotten voices to the forefront, earning critical acclaim for her ability to humanize and dramatize the historical record.
This powerful nonfiction narrative recounts the daring 1848 escape of Ellen and William Craft from slavery in Georgia. Ellen, light-skinned, disguised herself as a disabled white man; William acted as her servant. Their journey to freedom through the North and eventually to England is one of ingenuity, courage, and love. Ilyon Woo’s detailed and gripping account draws on archival research to illuminate not only their story but the broader resistance to slavery and racism. Master Slave Husband Wife is both a suspenseful escape narrative and a testament to the resilience of those who dared to break the chains of bondage.