The Great Absquatulator

Alfred Thomas Wood was a 19th-century con artist who traveled the world pretending to be a doctor, preacher, and government official. He was known as the Great Absquatulator and was compared to Forrest Gump and Malcolm X.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 01 May 2022
Publisher: Baraka Books

Alfred Thomas Wood was a remarkable figure who traversed a significant portion of the mid-19th century, encompassing various regions such as Halifax, Nova Scotia, New England, Liberia, Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, Canada, the U.S. Mid-West, and the South. Born to a preacher in Maine and Boston, he possessed an impressive academic background, having attended Oxford University. However, his claims to hold a Cambridge-educated doctor of divinity degree in Liberia were met with skepticism, as neither university admitted black students at that time.

Wood's journey was marked by a series of intriguing twists and turns. He spent 18 months in an English prison after being arrested for impersonating a doctor. In Hamburg in 1854, he published a history of Liberia in German, showcasing his knowledge of the region. Subsequently, in Montreal, he asserted that he had served as Superintendent of Public Works in Sierra Leone. His ecclesiastical career saw him serve as an Oxford-educated DD for the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. After the Civil War, he relocated to Tennessee and worked as a Cambridge-trained MD.

Despite his impressive credentials and diverse experiences, those who knew Wood were often eager to forget him. Rapper Webster, in his Foreword, draws a comparison between Wood and a mid-19th-century Forrest Gump, highlighting his remarkable ability to navigate historical events. However, Webster also draws parallels to Malcolm X, emphasizing the transformative impact that Wood's life had on him before he became politically involved.

Alfred Thomas Wood's life was a testament to the complexities and contradictions of the mid-19th century. His journey, marked by audacity, resilience, and a thirst for knowledge, sheds light on the challenges faced by individuals who sought to transcend societal boundaries and pursue their dreams. While his legacy may be debated, his impact on history remains undeniable, and his story continues to captivate and inspire generations to come.

Weight: 356g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781771862738