Buy new:
$9.20
FREE delivery: Tuesday, April 23 on orders over $35.00 shipped by Amazon.
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Tuesday, April 23 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Friday, April 19. Order within 15 hrs 54 mins
In Stock
$$9.20 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$9.20
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
FREE delivery April 25 - 26. Details
Or fastest delivery Friday, April 19. Order within 3 hrs 54 mins. Details
Used: Good | Details
Condition: Used: Good
Comment: Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Other Sellers on Amazon
Added
$10.63
+ $3.99 shipping
Sold by: SuperBookDeals---
Sold by: SuperBookDeals---
(41575 ratings)
72% positive over last 12 months
Only 10 left in stock - order soon.
Shipping rates and Return policy
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the authors

See all
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Paperback – November 18, 2010

4.7 out of 5 stars 4,567

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$9.20","priceAmount":9.20,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"9","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"20","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"7X1%2B1O08N0zhzAB1w1vJ9vgpZLXhhRVJSQpXedfgW1blwSLtenSHsEamgQjErsj1hT7M1B%2Bf8eELf632m86sgY4bRRTuf%2F1KZi%2FRkI9Qp00WhCo9g%2BKSGY14fBLkf0Czyji4viicygSHByVZATymsw%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$6.19","priceAmount":6.19,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"6","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"19","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"7X1%2B1O08N0zhzAB1w1vJ9vgpZLXhhRVJ6hBaL4zRMIhnVlDpciPHeyP%2FCHDt3ut5JRU9VypZWxnV15%2F2GYrAO2LqeLr%2FbHDpRh9xChuZmSmFuTWxvt%2Blescs4cooKdp%2BqphJeQ4VIHXYIXfmnETUYS6VpUaNiAvxQa4ORffneb%2B1%2FjS2En3%2BtVll6Oh%2FTrvl","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

The powerful story of slavery that has become a classic of American autobiography, now in an authoritative edition. This dramatic autobiography of the early life of an American slave was first published in 1845, when its young author had just achieved his freedom. Douglass' eloquence gives a clear indication of the powerful principles that led him to become the first great African-American leader in the United States. *** Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in 1818, and after his escape in 1838 repeatedly risked his own freedom as an antislavery speaker, writer and publisher.

The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

$9.20
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 23
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$13.54
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 23
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$22.50
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 23
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Choose items to buy together.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tribeca Books (November 18, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 114 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1936594188
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1936594184
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 550L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.29 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 4,567

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
4,567 global ratings
So Great I Referenced It in My Book!!!
5 Stars
So Great I Referenced It in My Book!!!
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is a must read for all who want to study the history of Black people in America. This book was so important that I had to mention it in my book The Real Wakandas of Africa. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass takes the reader through a journey of what it was like to be a slave in American society. Being an enslaved African-American meant a life of no future and no hope. Douglass details the experiences that he undergoes as he is “broken” by an overseer. This involves psychological warfare against Douglass and other slaves. It shows that slavery was more than just a physical enslavement, and that it included mental enslavement too. There are hundreds of slave narratives that were written. However, if you are only going to read one slave narrative, this is the one. In fact, this is by far the most widely read slave narrative. Without ruining the end, Douglass eventually learns how to read. Once he learns the basic aspects of reading, he does anything within his power to try to learn how to read further. Is this intellectual freedom that eventually drives him to free himself physically. Frederick Douglass became the preeminent black leader of his day. His story is indeed moving. Like his book, I also discuss slavery at length in my book The Real Wakandas of Africa. Slavery took tens of millions of the sons and daughters of Africa from her shores. I also discuss colonialism at length and connect these two errors of slavery and colonialism. However, unlike other books, I also detail the beautiful history of African civilizations before slavery and before colonialism. Referencing more than 200 sources, I discuss the fact that Africans build the tallest building in the world. This building stood for more than 4000 years as the tallest building. I also discuss the fact that Africans charted star systems that were not discovered by Europeans or Americans until the 1990s. In the sphere of medical advancement, Africans did surgery on the eye to remove cataracts 700 years ago. They performed cesarean sections with antiseptics several hundred years before it was done in Europe or America. To add to this, Africans who were enslaved brought the concept of inoculation against smallpox to the United States of America. They also smelted carbon steel 2000 years before it was done in Europe or America. Africans built a wall that is one of the most magnificent structures on the planet. I wrote a book about this called: The Great Wall of Africa: The Empire of Benin’s 10,000 Mile Long Wall. It is stories like these that are often missing from Black history. Indeed, Frederick Douglass has written a book that is a must read for all who want to learn about slavery in America. Pick up a copy of the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass today!!!
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2021
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is a must read for all who want to study the history of Black people in America. This book was so important that I had to mention it in my book The Real Wakandas of Africa. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass takes the reader through a journey of what it was like to be a slave in American society. Being an enslaved African-American meant a life of no future and no hope. Douglass details the experiences that he undergoes as he is “broken” by an overseer. This involves psychological warfare against Douglass and other slaves. It shows that slavery was more than just a physical enslavement, and that it included mental enslavement too. There are hundreds of slave narratives that were written. However, if you are only going to read one slave narrative, this is the one. In fact, this is by far the most widely read slave narrative. Without ruining the end, Douglass eventually learns how to read. Once he learns the basic aspects of reading, he does anything within his power to try to learn how to read further. Is this intellectual freedom that eventually drives him to free himself physically. Frederick Douglass became the preeminent black leader of his day. His story is indeed moving. Like his book, I also discuss slavery at length in my book The Real Wakandas of Africa. Slavery took tens of millions of the sons and daughters of Africa from her shores. I also discuss colonialism at length and connect these two errors of slavery and colonialism. However, unlike other books, I also detail the beautiful history of African civilizations before slavery and before colonialism. Referencing more than 200 sources, I discuss the fact that Africans build the tallest building in the world. This building stood for more than 4000 years as the tallest building. I also discuss the fact that Africans charted star systems that were not discovered by Europeans or Americans until the 1990s. In the sphere of medical advancement, Africans did surgery on the eye to remove cataracts 700 years ago. They performed cesarean sections with antiseptics several hundred years before it was done in Europe or America. To add to this, Africans who were enslaved brought the concept of inoculation against smallpox to the United States of America. They also smelted carbon steel 2000 years before it was done in Europe or America. Africans built a wall that is one of the most magnificent structures on the planet. I wrote a book about this called: The Great Wall of Africa: The Empire of Benin’s 10,000 Mile Long Wall. It is stories like these that are often missing from Black history. Indeed, Frederick Douglass has written a book that is a must read for all who want to learn about slavery in America. Pick up a copy of the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass today!!!
Customer image
5.0 out of 5 stars So Great I Referenced It in My Book!!!
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2021
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is a must read for all who want to study the history of Black people in America. This book was so important that I had to mention it in my book The Real Wakandas of Africa. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass takes the reader through a journey of what it was like to be a slave in American society. Being an enslaved African-American meant a life of no future and no hope. Douglass details the experiences that he undergoes as he is “broken” by an overseer. This involves psychological warfare against Douglass and other slaves. It shows that slavery was more than just a physical enslavement, and that it included mental enslavement too. There are hundreds of slave narratives that were written. However, if you are only going to read one slave narrative, this is the one. In fact, this is by far the most widely read slave narrative. Without ruining the end, Douglass eventually learns how to read. Once he learns the basic aspects of reading, he does anything within his power to try to learn how to read further. Is this intellectual freedom that eventually drives him to free himself physically. Frederick Douglass became the preeminent black leader of his day. His story is indeed moving. Like his book, I also discuss slavery at length in my book The Real Wakandas of Africa. Slavery took tens of millions of the sons and daughters of Africa from her shores. I also discuss colonialism at length and connect these two errors of slavery and colonialism. However, unlike other books, I also detail the beautiful history of African civilizations before slavery and before colonialism. Referencing more than 200 sources, I discuss the fact that Africans build the tallest building in the world. This building stood for more than 4000 years as the tallest building. I also discuss the fact that Africans charted star systems that were not discovered by Europeans or Americans until the 1990s. In the sphere of medical advancement, Africans did surgery on the eye to remove cataracts 700 years ago. They performed cesarean sections with antiseptics several hundred years before it was done in Europe or America. To add to this, Africans who were enslaved brought the concept of inoculation against smallpox to the United States of America. They also smelted carbon steel 2000 years before it was done in Europe or America. Africans built a wall that is one of the most magnificent structures on the planet. I wrote a book about this called: The Great Wall of Africa: The Empire of Benin’s 10,000 Mile Long Wall. It is stories like these that are often missing from Black history. Indeed, Frederick Douglass has written a book that is a must read for all who want to learn about slavery in America. Pick up a copy of the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass today!!!
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
17 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2003
As the title implies, this short work is the narrative of Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave. He wrote it by himself, a significant fact in that his prose is so eloquent and his pathos so powerful that it seems impossible for a former slave to have composed it. In this short autobiography, Douglass recounts his life as a slave, and details some of the horrors and atrocities perpetuated on slaves by their fiendish overseers, most of whom Douglass portrays as downright evil. More than just a narrative of his life, Douglass also gives an account of how the desire to be free grew and began to burn within his bosom, and how he grew to hate that horrible institution. Above all, this is a story of a slave learning that he is, in fact, a human being.

The significance of this book cannot be overestimated. In it, Douglass effectively dispels a number of popular myths about slaves and slaveholders, and forever changes the way the reader (especially one who lived while slavery still existed) looks at slavery. The theme of this book is very simple: slavery is wrong. It is evil, it is cruel, and, despite what many people thought at the time, the slaves know how cruel it is. Douglass cites several examples of the horrible treatment slaves received, one of them being separation of families. "It is a common custom...to part children from their mothers at a very early age" So it was with Douglass and his own mother.

Douglass writes in a very eloquent style, and this contributes to the power of this work. Many people who thought blacks were inferior in intelligence were shown to be sadly mistaken with the coming of Frederick Douglass, a man both educated and refined. It may be said that the book is not entirely fair, for it is decidedly anti-slavery, but it is undoubtedly true for most cases nonetheless. Most of the overseers in Douglass's narrative are demonic and sadistic, but when a good overseer comes along (such as Freeland), he is fair in his treatment of him.

One can imagine the fuel this book gave to the abolitionist fire, and it is not difficult to see why Douglass had such an impact on both North and South. This is, in my opinion, a definitive work, in that it shows the horrible institution of slavery in all its barbaric nature, and does it from a firsthand point of view, that of a former slave. This book was a tremendous contribution, both for the light it shed on slavery in general, and for proving that blacks were not intellectually inferior by nature, but instead were "transformed into...brute[s]" at the hands of their overseers.

This is a great book, essential for anyone wanting to study the Civil War era or wanting to gain a firmer understanding of slavery.
13 people found this helpful
Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Andre Alves
5.0 out of 5 stars PERFEITO
Reviewed in Brazil on May 11, 2023
MUITO BOM E CHEGOU RAPIDO
April
5.0 out of 5 stars A hero...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 12, 2024
Interesting, well written, fascinating insights into the life of a heroic freedom fighter...great for history classes, for young grandkids...
SHEILA
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesante
Reviewed in Spain on April 27, 2023
Es un tema que me interesa mucho, sin embargo el estilo de escribirlo es un poco pesado para leer, aunque comprensible!
Katja H. Labonté
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating & So Well Done
Reviewed in Canada on January 6, 2021
5+ stars & 8/10 hearts. Wow. This is one of the best and most fascinating autobiographies I have ever read. In the first place, it was fascinating because it was written BY a former slave ABOUT slavery, thus with a POV that no one who had never been a slave could possibly have. Douglass' book broke my heart and filled me with indignation and anger, and yet it also made me so happy, for Douglass himself was such a huge argument against any ideas that black people are inferior in any way. Douglass has a splendid writing style and is so lucid and interesting. I really enjoyed his writing from an academic point of view. I was also very impressed by his honesty, firmness, kindness, and restraint. Although he was writing of people and circumstances that caused him much harm, he was not bitter or nasty. He stated his story passionately, but there seemed no evidence of hatred. He disliked, disapproved of, and deplored the actions taken by those people, spoke sharply and showed plainly the wickedness of their actions, but he did not speak of them to raise hatred or anger against the persons--he spoke to raise awareness and indignation against the system of slavery. His appendix was a very good example of this. In short, I applaud Frederick Douglass for his courage and strength, and he has become one of my new favourite historical characters. I am eager to read more of his works.

Content: This is in no way whitewashed. Language is blanked out. There are graphic descriptions of beatings & other physical harm inflicted upon slaves. Immorality abounded in the system and Douglass does not sweep this under the rug. Adultery & rape are frequently mentioned; also the common practise of slave owners to have children with their female slaves & the consequences of this. It's handled well & tastefully, but it is not veiled. Douglass' purpose was to be crystal-clear about the ills of slavery.

A Favourite Quote: "I would sometimes say to [these white boys], I wished I could be as free as they would be when they got to be men. “You will be free as soon as you are twenty-one, but I am a slave for life! Have not I as good a right to be free as you have?” These words used to trouble them; they would express for me the liveliest sympathy, and console me with the hope that something would occur by which I might be free."
One person found this helpful
Report
Tavleen Kaur (Travelling Through Words)
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read autobiography
Reviewed in India on December 21, 2019
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is probably the most enlightening autobiography I've ever read. The author escaped from the barbarian clutches of slavery. He describes his life, including what all he and the slaves around him went through. I read this book as part of my course. I'm actually surprised I had never heard of this book before. It's one of the first accounts of someone who escaped from being a slave. After reading Beloved by Toni Morrison, I had to read this and I'm glad I did.
One person found this helpful
Report