A Madman's Will

John Randolph, 400 Slaves, and the Mirage of Freedom

By: Gregory May

Narrated by: Johnny Heller

Few legal cases in American history are as riveting as the controversy surrounding the will of Virginia Senator John Randolph (1773-1833), which—almost inexplicably—freed all 383 of his slaves in one of the largest and most publicized manumissions in American history. So famous is the case that Ta-Nehisi Coates has used it to condemn Randolph’s cousin, Thomas Jefferson, for failing to free his own slaves. With this groundbreaking investigation, historian Gregory May now reveals a more surprising story, showing how madness and scandal shaped John Randolph’s wildly shifting attitudes toward his slaves—and how endemic prejudice in the North ultimately deprived the freedmen of the land Randolph had promised them.

Sweeping from the legal spectacle of the contested will through the freedmen’s dramatic flight and horrific reception in Ohio, A Madman’s Will is an extraordinary saga about the alluring promise of freedom and its tragic limitations.

©2023 Gregory May (P)2023 Dreamscape Media

Fascinating legal battle over manumission

I previously listened to and greatly enjoyed Gregory May's book on Gallatin, "Jefferson's Treasure". Here, he brings to light a legal case I'd never heard of, i.e., John Randolph's manumission of his slaves after his death in 1833. Great intrigue and confusion resulted from Randolph's will. Did he actually mean what he indicated or was he out of his mind? Were there other copies of the will that might take precedence? But it's the story of what happened afterwards to this former slaves (known as the Roanokes) that is even more compelling. With land purchased for their use in Ohio, they had a long and tragic battle ahead of them. This is a great and unsettling piece of American history that is well served by May's attention.

The narrator, Johnny Heller, is one of my favorites. He has a distinctive voice that he uses so well to emphasize the author's points. I'd listen to anything he reads.

Perfect narrator for this tortuous story

Kudos to narrator Johnny Heller for guiding me through this deeply researched, complex and disturbing story. As soon as I finished listening to it, I went out and bought a hard copy for the footnotes and illustrations.