Twelve Years a Slave

By: Solomon Northup

Narrated by: Louis Gossett Jr.

Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Official Movie Tie-in Audiobook for the Academy Award's Best Picture and Golden Globe's Best Drama winner.

New York Times and USA Today Bestseller.

In this riveting landmark autobiography which reads like a novel, Academy Award and Emmy winner Louis Gossett, Jr., masterfully transports us to 1840s New York, Washington, D.C., and Louisiana to experience the kidnapping and twelve years of bondage of Solomon Northup, a free man of color. Twelve Years a Slave, published in 1853, was an immediate bombshell in the national debate over slavery leading up to the Civil War. It validated Harriett Beecher Stowe’s fictional account of Southern slavery in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which had become the best-selling American book in history a few years earlier and significantly changed public opinion in favor of abolition. Experience our official movie tie-in audiobook for the award-winning motion picture, directed by Steve McQueen and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Brad Pitt, Paul Giamatti, Michael Fassbender, and Lupita Nyong'o. This audio edition with an accompanying custom map is based on the research of Dr. Sue Eakin, the nationally recognized authority on Solomon Northup who spent a lifetime authenticating his story.

Hard working Solomon Northup, an educated free man of color in 1841, enjoys family life with his wife and three children in Saratoga, New York. He delights his community with his fiddle playing and antic spirit, and has positive expectations of all he meets. When he is deceived by “circus promoters” to accompany them to a musical gig in the nation’s capital, his joyful life takes an unimaginable turn. He awakens in shackles to find he has been drugged, kidnapped and bound for the slave block in D.C.

After Solomon is shipped 1,000 miles to New Orleans, he is assigned his slave name and quickly learns that the mere utterance of his true origin or rights as a freeman are certain to bring severe punishment or death. While he endures the brutal life of a slave in Louisiana’s isolated Bayou Boeuf plantation country, he must learn how to play the system and plot his escape home.

For 12 years, his fine mind captures the reality of slavery in stunning detail, as we learn about the characters that populate plantation society and the intrigues of the bayou – from the collapse of a slave rebellion resulting in mass hangings due to traitorous slave Lew Cheney, to the tragic abuse of his friend Patsey because of Mrs. Epps’ jealousy of her husband’s sexual exploitation of his pretty young slave.

When Solomon finally finds a sympathizing friend who risks his life to secret a letter to the North, a courageous rescue attempt ensues that could either compound Solomon’s suffering, or get him back to the arms of his family.

AUTHENTICATION: Northup’s harrowing first-hand account was authenticated from decades of research by Dr. Sue Eakin, who rediscovered the original narrative as a 12-year old in 1931 and made it her life’s work.

For additional audio clips, background info and images, see our website at www.12YearsASlaveBook.com.

Download your unique free map based on Solomon's narrative.

©2013 Eakin Films & Publishing (P)2013 Eakin Films & Publishing

Critic reviews

“...Gossett infuses the words with a quiet, seething power." ( AudioFile, 2013)

“I can never read his account of his days in slavery, of his independence of spirit, of his determination to be free…without believing that it would make a difference in today's world if our contemporaries knew of such a man as Solomon Northup." (Dr. John Hope Franklin, past president of the American Historical Association, best-selling author, recipient of Presidential Medal of Freedom, nation's highest civilian honor)

"[T]he extraordinary narrative of Solomon Northup is the most remarkable book that was ever issued from the American press." ( Detroit Tribune, original 1853 review) "Its truth is far greater than fiction." (Frederick Douglass, famous writer, former slave and abolitionist) "It will be read extensively, both at the North and the South." ( New York Tribune, 1853, published by Horace Greeley)

Great

A story of strength and finally triumph. Glad I listened to this story I don't think I could have handled it visually.

Excellent, a story that reached my heart.

What did you love best about Twelve Years a Slave?

The raw truth told by someone who actually experienced it in a factual manner. This is how it really was, not how the history books are written. It made me think and feel to the bottom of my heart.

What did you like best about this story?

The beginning was slow, but once the story started I was immediately drawn into it to the end.

Which scene was your favorite?

No scene was perfect, so horrible an existence it was for slaves, but I enjoyed hearing throughout the story some people did have a heart and saw the pain and tried to help.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If only I could but my life is broken into just chunks of free time. Actually it made me so sad and angry taking it in chunks was better for my digestion. But yes, I could have listened to the entire story in one sitting on a long drive.

Brutality....

The brutality depicted in this book was unspeakable, so much so that I do not think I would ever be able to watch the movie. It was a very sad account of Solomon Northrup's life to be born free, educated, and then kidnapped and sold into bondage for 12 years. As sad as it was, I could not help but to smile when he received his freedom once again.

Moving story!

Eye opening book that makes you feel the emotions of someone helplessly bound in slavery. I agree with some of the other reviewers that the reader is hard to understand, it sounds like he's talking with his mouth full. Otherwise it was excellent. I would still highly recommend it!

Learn from the past

It's hard to express how I felt as a white woman reading this book. I'm very ashamed of the way black men and women of all ages were treated during this timeframe, prior to, and after. The first-hand experience described by Solomon was heartbreaking at times to listen to. I truly wish that this book had become a success before Solomon's passing. Maybe things could have been different sooner for the black population. The narrator did an extraordinary job of conveying the sorrow that Solomon experienced during his 12 years as a slave. I truly felt that I was with him on the Red River in Louisiana. I would highly recommend this to any person who is interested in our history as Americans. Even if you aren't into history I would still recommend reading this book so that you may have a better understanding of what black men and women went through prior to gaining their freedom.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book

Where does Twelve Years a Slave rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is in the top 10 of all the books I've read or heard. I'm normally a fan of action fantasy so it was a wonderful surprise to find a book like this riveting. It will cause me to explore more outside my comfort zone.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Twelve Years a Slave?

The sections where the lead character moves from owner to owner were really interesting. Learning how his skills became known around the county really allowed me to attach to the character. It gave him uniqueness.

What about Louis Gossett, Jr.’s performance did you like?

As an audiobook, Lou Gossett provided a great tone to the story. Being able to see his face in my mind's eye, as if he were by my side reading to me, gave the book and extra pleasant feature. I've been a fan of his for decades.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When transitioned from freeman to slave was engrossing. I could feel the pain of the whippings.

Any additional comments?

Great read. I'd recommend it to anyone. I learned more about slavery than I ever thought possible. Can't wait to see how this story conveys to the screen. It won so many awards I can't resist. Hope it doesn't disappoint.

Compelling, Crushing, and Courageous

There are few books expressing the disgrace of chattel slavery as thought provoking, heart-wrenching, and absolutely enthralling as this autobiography. I cannot imagine the courage it takes to be a man of constant and courageous faith through immense hardships and detestable practices as Solomon.

This is a book every self-proclaiming white evangelical reader must read. It provides an unrelenting account of slavery in an area wherein the church was at best complicit.

A historical treasure. Sad, but interesting.

A sad but super interesting to learn how slavery really was from a first hand account.

Beautiful

Heartbreaking and shocking story, beautifully written and wonderfully narrated. Now I can't wait to watch the movie. It's gonna be very hard picking out a book after this one.

Excellent

Excellent and stunning story. The narrator does a superb job of translating the emotions of the page to the listener.