Written by Charles Morris and published by the Temperance Publishing Co. in 1888, Broken fetters, The light of ages on intoxication, has a long and expressive subtitle: "A historical view of the drinking habits of mankind, from the earliest times to the present, in which is depicted the intemperance of the nations of antiquity and of the people of the middle ages, while a graphic picture is given of the history of drunkenness in modern Europe." The title page also includes that "the work is especially devoted to the various Temperance Reform Movements in the United States."
With its broad historical scope, the book examines drinking cultures across different eras, including ancient civilizations, the Middle Ages, and modern Europe, highlighting instances of excessive drinking ("intemperance") in each period, with a strong focus on American Temperance Movements.
Symbolizing the goal of temperance movements to liberate individuals from the grip of excessive drinking, "Broken Fetters" in the title is meant to convey the idea of breaking free from the chains of alcohol addiction. The second part, "Light of Ages on Intoxication," refers to the historical perspective, examining how drinking habits have evolved throughout time.
The personal stories related to drinking habits are accompanied by various illustrations visually depicting different aspects of drinking cultures and temperance movements throughout history, making the subject matter more engaging for a general audience.
"The Spirit of Intoxication"; "The Spirit of Reform"
Illustration showing "The Spirit of Intoxication," a skeleton riding a horse, fighting "The Spirit of Reform," an angel wielding a sword and holding a wreath.
The beginning and the end for the drinker
Illustration showing the imagined progression of a non-drinker into alcoholism, captioned "The Beginning and the End."
Rum's Nightmare
Illustration showing a man experiencing frightening visions brought on by alcohol consumption, captioned "Rum's Nightmare."
Discovery of a liquor bottle in a traveller's satchel
Illustration showing two women discovering a bottle of liquor in a traveller's bag, captioned "The Maine Traveller's Satchel."
Women crusaders outside a saloon being attacked
Illustration showing a group of women temperance advocates being attacked outside of a saloon, captioned "An Attack by the Mob on the Woman Crusaders."
Victims of a family member's drinking
Illustration showing women and children standing outside of a liquor store, captioned "The Victims of the Bottle."
Color illustration of A den of iniquity of the 19th century
Illustration of "The Gilded Palace. A Den of Iniquity of the 19th Century," showing people drinking in a large, ornate room.
The evils awaiting the drunkard
Illustration showing the imagined consequences of alcohol use, depicting a man haunted by spirits or demons, captioned "The Drunkard's Fate. Oh! Horrors."