Unprecedented times call for unprecedented reporting. Solomon northup, a well to do black man who was kidnapped into slavery, wrote his bestselling autobiography, 12 years a slave, which tells the unbelievable true story of a free african american man whose freedom was stolen and sold into slavery. Unlike works of fiction, this book is so compelling because, by all accounts, it is true. He worked as a slave for 12 years before the government was able to locate and free him. In the end, twelve years a slave is both a profound memoir and a well written, passionate abolitionist document from an involuntary inside informant. I hope my film can play a part in drawing attention to this important book of courage. Solomon northup s 12 years a slave recounts the authors life story as a free black man from the north who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the precivil war south. Not hopefully for our enjoyment but giving us the understanding and knowledge not to repeat and if done and we are made aware do something about. While the overall plot of the book is quite depressingly intriguing, the most striking feature of the book 12 years a slave is the brave depiction of the way white slaveholding women and black women relate to each other in america. Forrest wickman of slate wrote of northups book giving a more favorable account of the authors onetime master. The 12 years a slave book shows slavery as even more appalling than in the film.
The book twelve years a slave is wonderfully written and sadly hundreds of stories that are true and need to be written. Questions were often raised about accuracy or authenticity of books about slavery, including slave narratives. The fourth phase of solomon northups 12 years a slave, told in chapters xiixx, focuses on the ten years he lived under the tyranny of edwin epps on two different plantations in bayou boeuf, along the banks of the red river in louisiana. The 12 years a slave book shows slavery as even more appalling. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. His book, twelve years a slave, one of the longest and most. There is no polemical axe to grind, as with uncle tom a novel at one point.
Twelve years a slave by solomon northup free ebook. Its the most devastating film about slavery ever, but the book shows the. Strongly recommended for anyone interested in american history or who has never heard of solomon northup. Solomon northups 12 years a slave recounts the authors life story as a free black man from the north who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in th. Solomon northups story was relevant when it was written and is still relevant today. He lived, worked, and married in upstate new york, where his family resided. He was an abolitionist from canada that helped solomon to be free since he sent letters. The son of an emancipated slave, northup was born free.