Twelve Years a Slave

By: Solomon Northup

Narrated by: Hugh Quarshie

Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Hugh Quarshie reads the extraordinary autobiography of Solomon Northup. His harrowing true story, first published in 1853, was a key factor in the national debate over slavery prior to the American Civil War, significantly changing public opinion on the topic of abolition. It tells the horrifying tale of Solomon Northup, an educated, free black man living with his wife and children in New York State, whose life takes an appalling turn when he is kidnapped, drugged and sold into slavery.

Shipped to New Orleans, he endures the life of a slave in Louisiana's isolated plantation country. For twelve long years, he endures the unimaginable brutality and inhumanity of daily life, while keeping his dignity intact and dreaming of one day returning home to the arms of his family.

Twelve Years a Slave is soon to be a major motion picture, starring Brad Pitt, Paul Giamatti, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender.

©2013 AudioGO Ltd (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• 10 Best Audiobooks of 2013 (Salon)

"The resurgent interest in '12 Years a Slave' has everything to do with Steve McQueen's masterful film adaptation, but the book has more to offer than the movie, and the Ghanian-British stage actor Hugh Quarshie's conversational delivery stands out among a slew of newly released competing audiobook adaptations." (Kyle Minor, Salon)

"A moving, vital testament to one of slavery s many thousands gone who retained his humanity in the bowels of degradation. It is also a chilling insight into the peculiar institution.” ( Saturday Review Online)

Required reading

This book reads like a novel. The events depicted are raw and emotional. Just an inspiring effort written with con conviction. Maybe in the next life I can thank Solomon for this gift.

Excellent

Better than the movie!!! Excellent ❤️this book should be added to the high school preferred reading list. Love this book

recommend it to all who care to learn the true

factual history of a free man sold into slavery to build the riches of the south.

One of the best...

What made the experience of listening to Twelve Years a Slave the most enjoyable?

Absolutely a compelling and gripping story that was also read in a manner that only reinforced the power of the narrative. Highly recommended!

Fantastic

fantastic book. unbelievable that someone could survive such monstreous pain and suffering at the hands of evil men.

Sad but true

Didn’t see the movie. The book was gripping it made me reflect on my life and how some European Americans today exhibit the behaviors an mannerisms described in the book. Europeans and European Americans need to listen to what and how Europeans treated fellow human beings. They might then understand what has happened to the Black American community for the past 400 years.

great book

listen to it straight through. keep my attention. it was easy-listening. its a sad and triumphant human Spirit story. show clearly how us law in the end was and is a Force for freedom and justice.he store of captivity and being sold into slavery is something that had happened to mem and woman of all races and religious from the beginning of time. America is truly the last great hope that all men should have inalienable rights.

Great Listen

This listen is great. Let’s people know first hand what slaves had to go through and how they were treated. The audio was very detailed. I couldn’t help but feel sorry and think how anyone could live in such conditions. This listen will humble the soul of a person and I hope it reminds people of the war on race we are still fighting to this day. Is it really necessary to hate a person because of the color of their skin?

Pretty good

Pretty good and difficult the read. Gets a little to technical in explaining how some things work.

Excellent first hand history account!

Excellent first hand history account! I felt like I was right there witnessing it all.