Twelve Years a Slave (AmazonClassics Edition)

By: Solomon Northup

Narrated by: J D Jackson

Born into “the blessings of liberty in a free State,” Solomon Northup was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the Bayou Boeuf region of Louisiana’s Red River Valley. Twelve Years a Slave is the chronicle of his captivity at the mercy of sadistic plantation owner Edwin Epps, who tested Northup’s tenacity and self-control under the most brutal conditions. Until fate brought a Canadian abolitionist to Epps’s farm, Northup thought he would never draw another free breath.

To this day Northup’s harrowing memoir is recognized as the most reliable, accurate eyewitness account of the daily lives of slaves. As a significant historical reference, it is unsurpassed. As an authentic narrative of a man starved of his freedom, it is unforgettable.

AmazonClassics brings you timeless works from iconic authors. Ideal for anyone who wants to listen to a great work for the first time or revisit an old favorite, these new editions open the door to the stories and ideas that have shaped our world.

Revised edition: Previously published as Twelve Years a Slave, this edition of Twelve Years a Slave (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.

Public Domain (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

wow!

If this book doesn't bring tears to your eyes and touch your heart, there probably isn't much that will. sooner of it got very close to home.

Great book

First Audible book for me. Love to read. Enjoyed listening. Ready to choose next one!

Life Read

An Important Book to Read in One's Life to understand a piece of the life and struggle

Read this book.

This is a great book even after all these many years. It isn't a book for kids, but I would recommend it as soon as they are old enough to understand. It is a sad tale of betrayal, hardship, horrible evil, and man's inhumanity to man. There are happy times described, but unfortunately very few. It is important to note that this portrayal is not necessarily indicative of every situation, even according to the author, but it was for many. And that was too many. The whole concept of slavery is abhorrent. This book ensures that people remember how life really was back then, and how it must never be again.

A beautiful telling of a tragic story…

A beautiful telling of a tragic story… that is truly what Solomon Northup’s story of endured slavery is. His lyrical prose and expanded vocabulary definitely testified of his being an educated black man, and I was more than awed by his story.