The Furnace of Affliction

“Graber makes a convincing argument that Protestant prison reformers were central to the development of the idea that prisons exist to rehabilitate convicts.” — The Historian

“One of the first in-depth studies of Protestant prison religion in the United States between the American Revolution and the Civil War. . . . [It] raises important questions about the extent to which antebellum Protestant success or failure in influencing public policy hinged on the ideologies put forward by reformers, their decision to conform to political demands, and the willingness of the public to support their efforts.” — Church History

“Provocative and interesting.” — Journal of American History

“Graber’s book is a well-crafted historical case study . . . . [She] has done full justice to these historical conversations in her excellent book.” — Register of the Kentucky Historical Society

“The book has much to recommend it.” — Journal of Church and State

“A well-researched, clearly articulated historical account of the struggle over Protestant Christianity’s religio-social role in the antebellum prison.” — Conrad Grebel Review

“A call to action for those concerned with the state of prisons and rate of incarceration in contemporary American life.” — Pennsylvania History

“Jennifer Graber’s provocative, important, and thoughtful book illuminates the history of the intersection of religious beliefs and practices with the U.S. penitentiary. Her work will become the leading account of that troubled relationship.” — Michael Meranze, University of California, Los Angeles

“Stated simply, Jennifer Graber has given us the most sophisticated and comprehensive history of prisons and religion in early America that has ever been written. Eloquent, powerful, and riveting, ##The Furnace of Affliction# is required reading for anyone who wishes to understand the painful history of prisons and incarceration in the early republic.” — Harry S. Stout, Yale University