{"product_id":"sharpened-blade-joseph-j-swope-9781685137076","title":"Sharpened Blade: The Story of Dinah Clark","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"Swope deftly weaves Reading, Berks County and American history around the life of this interesting African-American woman. The author successfully tiptoes between fact and fiction, bringing this memorable tale to life. Definitely a keeper!\" -Paul A. Druzda, Berks County historian and author of four books on local history\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBased on one woman's incredible real life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBorn an indentured servant and bound by slavery for the first twenty-one years of her life, Dinah Clark ultimately earned her freedom, married, had children, bought a house, and mastered the arduous work of a sawyer. Her profession-unusual for a woman at the time-sustained her following the early death of her husband. Her outgoing nature and skill as a woodcutter made her one of the most famous African American women in Reading, Pennsylvania, in the 19th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlong the way, Dinah helped build the Bethel A.M.E. Church, which served not only as her place of worship but also as a way station on the Underground Railroad. Despite living near poverty much of her life, Dinah's courage and conviction helped her break down racial and gender barriers as she staked out a full life for herself and her family.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Joseph J. Swope\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1685137075\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781685137076\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Black Rose Writing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/19\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 274\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.82lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.62d","brand":"Joseph J. Swope","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48175767814399,"sku":"9781685137076","price":21.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_71a34fbd-1244-4b56-8e8d-b4dbcb3058e6.jpg?v=1771335780","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/sharpened-blade-joseph-j-swope-9781685137076","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}