Publisher's Synopsis
Twelve Years a Slave: Narrative of Solomon Northup: A Citizen of New-York, Kidnapped in Washington City in 1841, and Rescued in 1853, from a Cotton Plantation Near the Red River, in Louisiana is now a major motion picture and an Oscar contender. This narrative is a wonderfully written and brutally honest portrayal of slavery in America told in the first-hand perspective by Solomon Northup. Over six thousand accounts have been written over the years from individual slave experiences, yet Northup's narrative stands out as a deeply moving and provocative personal tale of his experience as a slave--as poignant and relevant today as when it was first published. At times horrific, and at other times introspective, this tale challenges sugar coated beliefs about slavery and the treatment of human beings during this dark period of American history. An engaging and engrossing read, Northup's narrative keeps the reader invested in his story and his experiences until the final page. This book grabs the reader from the first line and compels them to endure, as Northup did, the horrors and injustice of enslavement. While not for the faint of heart, this gritty portrayal of captivity opens the reader's eyes to the realities of injustice and violence that can occur when a society deems other individuals as property. Solomon Northup's book, Twelve Years a Slave, is an amazing story of struggle and survival in the worst of conditions. It tells of the extreme challenges the human soul and body can undergo and what humans must do to survive the horrors of slavery. An invaluable edition to any library and a must read for any individual interested in human rights, American history, and personal experiences.
