Twelve Years a Slave
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4.6 • 335 Ratings
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Publisher Description
An Apple Books Classic edition.
In 1841, Solomon Northup was a free, educated Black man living in Saratoga Springs, New York—until the day that two men kidnapped him and sold him into slavery in Louisiana. This is Northup’s account of those years, when he learned about “the measure of ‘man’s inhumanity to man.’” Northup endured unconscionable mental and physical abuse, but he never lost hope that his family would rescue him…if he could just find a way to contact them.
Twelve Years a Slave was published as abolitionists throughout the U.S. were campaigning to end slavery, and it has stood the test of time as a blistering indictment of slavery. In 2013, Northup’s story was adapted into an award-winning movie. Northup’s story remains important—and the question he addresses to us readers continues to resonate: “What difference is there in the color of the soul?”
Customer Reviews
See AllThis book is amazing
I don’t enjoy the fact that this actually happened to that poor fellow but his writing is so frickin good usually I quit books halfway thru but I stuck around because he was cooking istg helped me understand the period of slavery so much better
A touching 1st person story
The vernacular and phraseology of books written in this period my favorite. This story written by the author is a sad testament to times not that far removed from today. It’s worth while to read perhaps for a closer representation of slavery as told by a slave than what may be taught in classrooms.
Should be required reading for all
A true first-hand account of slavery. This book cut me to the core. It was not so much that I didn’t know the trials I would read within, but to hear it in this voice, from this man who personally endured it, was incredibly poignant and personal. Every human being needs to read this book.