Twelve Years a Slave (African American) [Paperback]

Solomon Northup (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0486411435 | ISBN-13: 978-0486411439 | Publication Date: April 6, 2000

Kidnapped into slavery in 1841, Northup spent 12 years in captivity. This autobiographical memoir represents an exceptionally detailed and accurate description of slave life and plantation society. "A moving, vital testament to one of slavery's 'many thousand gone' who retained his humanity in the bowels of degradation." — Saturday Review. 7 illustrations. Index.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

b. 1808

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (April 6, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486411435
• ISBN-13: 978-0486411439
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #122,405 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Military > United States Civil War
  • #9 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Americas > United States > Civil War
  • #13 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Ethnic & National > African-American & Black

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hope Born Out of Despair, January 20, 2007

By 

Robert W. Kellemen "Doc. K." (Crown Point, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twelve Years a Slave (African American) (Paperback)

Solomon Northup's slave narrative follows in the line of scores of other enlightening first-hand accounts of African American enslavement. What makes Northrup's account so unique is the fact that he was free when kidnapped and enslaved.

His harrowing description of his kidnapping in Washington, D. C., and of his fellow kidnappees, will melt the hardest heart. Yet, his interactions with other abducted African Americans also portrays the beauty and power of shared sorrow.

Another fascinating distinction found in "Twelve Years a Slave" is Northrup's almost uncanny ability to fairly depict his slave owners. In some cases, he ruthlessly exposes the one-dimensional ruthlessness of cruel masters. Yet, in one case, with his owner Pastor Ford (yes, Pastor), he calls Ford one of the most godly, caring, Christians he has ever known. He describes the biblical preaching and personal ministry that Ford provided to him. It is difficult for us today to see how the hypocrisy of a slave-owning Pastor could occur. But for Northrup, an intelligent, educated, articulate man, who could be blistering in his verbal attack on slavers, Ford was not a one-dimensional man. He was flawed, yet could still display admirable attributes.

"Twelve Years a Slave" is perhaps the most important first-hand account of enslavement ever written. The end of the story, which I will not ruin, must be read. Of course, with riveting writing like this, only the rare reader would dare stop before the end of the journey.

Reviwer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction , Soul Physicians, and Spiritual Friends.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book!, January 24, 2007

By 

C. Foret (Athens, AL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twelve Years a Slave (African American) (Paperback)

A compelling and wrenchingly honest first-hand account of slavery, many
times breaking my heart and making me think of the children of Africa
today. A new book, "The Last Witness From a Dirt Road" which takes
place in 1946, was given to me after commenting about Solomon Northup's
narrative, and it could almost be a sequel to Twelve Years a Slave,
written a 100 years later by the son of an overseer on a plantation
along the banks of Bayou Bouef in the same location in Louisiana. Old
social and economic orders seemed little changed from 1841 to 1946,
tragic, heart rendering but both books are riveting and honest, are
timely and universal.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you read only one slave narrative - WOW! this is the one to choose., December 10, 2010

By 

J. Lee "imajeel" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twelve Years a Slave: (An African American Heritage Book) (Paperback)

I was concerned before I started reading this that something written like this over a hundred fify years ago was going to be a little plodding to get through, particularly since I've never been a real history buff. However, the opposite was true. Whether you have any real historical interest in slavery or that time - this is a genuine page-turning tale of a survivor. It was written with the help of a ghost writer and it's well-crafted.

After reading this, I read other slave narratives. (TIP: Pretty much all of them, including this one, are available free of charge online at Google books or via Project Gutenberg). But, I have to say this is the one that truly stood out for me, not only because, for me, it rang with the greatest sincerity and offered the broadest and yet most balanced range of perspectives on the slavery experience, but because it is out and out just better written and more engaging than the rest.

I've read this was a bestseller of the time. It's still worthy of being one now.

BOTTOM LINE: Highly recommended as a riveting and page-turning true tale of one man's fight for survival and freedom, that also serves up an eye-opening, insightful look into a slice of American History.