Compelling narrative history from a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, telling of a previously unknown episode in the history of American slavery. In the mid 19th century, a secret network known as 'the underground railroad' helped southern slaves escape to Canada. Foner has uncovered documents about 3 members of the network in New York - a church minister, a newspaper editor and a furniture polisher - who were instrumental in helping 3,000 slaves to their freedom, and here tells their story.