The Last Slave Ship: The True Story of How Clotilda Was Found, Her Descendants Endured, and Their Legacy Illuminated
by Ben Raines
Why read it
This is an extraordinary work of investigative journalism and narrative history that bridges a criminal 19th-century voyage with modern forensic discovery. It follows the illicit 1860 journey of the Clotilda, the resilient survivors who went on to found Africatown in Alabama, and the modern search through muddy riverbeds that finally uncovered the physical ship. It provides vital context to the transatlantic trade while centering the dignity and lineage of the people who survived it.
Where to get it
For listening in the Netherlands, the audiobook is widely available on platforms like Kobo (via Kobo Plus or à la carte purchase), Storytel, Audible, Apple Books, and Google Play Books, masterfully narrated by Kevin R. Free. If you also want print or digital reading, English paperback and ebook editions can be found via Bol.com, Amazon.nl, and major Dutch bookshops like Athenaeum Boekhandel or the American Book Center, as well as via the Online Bibliotheek app if stocked in digital English collections.
What to expect
A propulsive, journalistic pace blending archival research, maritime mystery, and oral histories. The tone is respectful, investigative, and emotionally resonant. The writing is accessible rather than dryly academic. Content notes: contains frank discussions of the transatlantic slave trade, chattel slavery, racial violence, and systemic disenfranchisement.
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