An excerpted, edited version of William E. Connelley's classic biography of John Brown, focused on the abolitionist's role in "Bleeding Kansas" in the 1850s. Besides Connelley's important study of Brown, the controversial Pottawatomie incident of 1856 is placed in its proper context with consideration of important primary Kansas sources. This edition includes an editorial introduction, a biographical sketch of the author, improved citations, bibliography, and an index.