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Twelve Years a Slave

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"Twelve Years a Slave" by Solomon Northup is a powerful and horrific account of slavery, detailing the journey of a free man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery in Louisiana. The narrative describes the brutal realities of slavery, the inhumane treatment of slaves, and the resilience and hope displayed by the protagonist throughout his twelve years of enslavement. The writing style is described as dispassionate yet impactful, with non-emotional descriptions that allow readers to feel the emotion and horror of the events described in the book.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is direct and factual, effectively conveying the gravity of the subject matter without excessive dramatization.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot follows a free black man who is abducted, sold into slavery in Louisiana, and endures twelve years of horrific conditions before finally regaining his freedom.

Setting:

The setting reflects antebellum America, contrasting free Northern territories with the oppressive Southern states.

Pacing:

The pacing maintains a balance between dramatic recounts of suffering and a brisk narrative flow.
Introductory—Ancestry—The Northup Family—Birth and Parentage—Mintus Northup—Marriage with Anne Hampton—Good Resolutions—Champlain Canal—Rafting Excursion to Canada—Farming—The Violin—Cooking— Removal ...

Notes:

The book was published in 1853 and became a bestseller of its time.
The movie adaptation was nominated for several Academy Awards.
Solomon Northup was born a free black man in New York.
He was kidnapped in Washington D.C. under the guise of a job offer to play the violin.
Northup spent 12 years in slavery before being rescued.
He was given a false name, Platt, and had to hide his true identity.
Northup observed that the better slaves were treated, the harder they worked, but they all longed for freedom.
During slavery, it was common for slaves to receive a few days off at Christmas, including time to visit family.
Northup's account of slavery contributed to the public understanding of the horrors of the institution.
He managed to send a letter to his family during captivity, but they couldn't act without more information.
The book argues against the notion that good slave owners make slavery acceptable, highlighting the inherent cruelty of the system.
Northup had to adapt to his life as a slave while trying to maintain hope for freedom.
He experienced both kind and cruel masters, providing a complex view of slavery.
The narrative includes the horrors of family separations and the psychological toll it took on slaves.
Northup's experiences as a kidnapped free man showcased the extreme vulnerability of black men during that era.
The book serves as a historical document, providing first-hand insight into 19th-century slavery in America.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include graphic depictions of violence, abuse, racism, and the trauma of slavery, which may be disturbing to readers.

From The Publisher:

The story that inspired the major motion picture, with an introduction by the bestselling author of Wench, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Twelve Years a Slave is a harrowing, vividly detailed, and utterly unforgettable account of slavery.

The story that inspired the major motion picture, with an introduction by the bestselling author of Wench, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Twelve Years a Slave is a harrowing, vividly detailed, and utterly unforgettable account of slavery.

Solomon Northup was an entrepreneur and dedicated family man, father to three young children, Elizabeth, Margaret, and Alonzo. What little free time he had after long days of manual and farm labor he spent reading books and playing the violin. Though his father was born into slavery, Solomon was born and lived free.

In March 1841, two strangers approached Northup, offering him employment as a violinist in a town hundreds of miles away from his home in Saratoga Springs, New York. Solomon bid his wife farewell until his return. Only after he was drugged and bound did he realize the strangers were kidnappers-that nefarious brand of criminals in the business of capturing runaway and free blacks for profit. Thus began Northup's horrific life as a slave.

Dehumanized, beaten, and worked mercilessly, Northup suffered all the more, wondering what had become of his family. One owner was savagely cruel and Northup recalls he was "indebted to him for nothing, save undeserved abuse." Just as he felt the summer of his life fade and all hope nearly lost, he met a kindhearted stranger who changed the course of his life.

With its firsthand account of this country's Peculiar Institution, this is a book no one interested in American history can afford to miss.

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1 comment(s)

Incredible
3 weeks

Excellent book

 

About the Author:

Solomon Northup (1808-c.1864-75) was a free-born African American from Saratoga Springs, New York, who was kidnapped into slavery in 1841. After his escape, he became an abolitionist and published his memoir, Twelve Years a Slave (1853). He gave many lectures in support of the abolitionist causes and aided in the Underground Railroad for fugitive slaves.

 
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