Frederick Douglass

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself

Douglass' powerful account of his journey from slave, by way of determined self education, to being one of America's great statesmen and orators. Published in 1845, this little book was widely read by the general public in the North who knew little about the inner workings of slavery. It was favorably reviewed in the New York Tribune: "Considered merely as narrative, we have never read one more simple, true, coherent and warm with genuine feeling", and it had a great influence in public opinion across the Atlantic: "Taking all together, not less than one million of persons in Great Britain and Ireland have been excited by the book and its commentators." Also available in hardback: 978-1-78139-437-3.