Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

By: Frederick Douglass

Narrated by: Walter Covell

Length: 3 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Frederick Douglass was an American abolitionist, women's suffragist, editor, orator, author, statesman and reformer. He was called both "The Sage of Anacostia" and "The Lion of Anacostia" and is one of the most prominent figures in African-American history and United States history.

He was born into slavery but secretly taught himself to read and write - a crime punishable by death. Because of this, we now possess what may be the most eloquent indictment of slavery ever written.

This book takes us into the fields, cabins, and manors of the pre-Civil War South and shows in vivid detail the heartlessness of slaveholders. Douglass finally managed to excape and became a famous orator, minister, and leader of his people.

Public Domain (P)1987 Jimcin Recordings

The Reader performs well, but the recording is bad

Would you listen to Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass again? Why?

I would, but I would listen to a different recording.

How could the performance have been better?

I don't know if the guy recording was looking down and up from the mic but the audio goes from really weak to strong through the whole record. It almost sounds like an old cassette tape that had been in the heat of the garage for a long time.
The reader does a good job reading though. But the audio is really distracting.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Its about Slavery so um YEAH. But it is a really good book to read and hear history and slavery from someone that went through it.

Any additional comments?

It feels weird to give a negative review about something you would normally give a positive one(which is weird in itself because the book is about someone who went through slavery....how can that experience be a positive thing to listen to?) But it was a book I think they should have made required reading in high school. I am glad to finally be able to listen to it, just wish it was a better recording.

Technical Issues

Good narration in spite of the poor sound quality.. The voice consistently going loud then soft in waves becomes quite annoying. Nevertheless, for the low price,, I'll put up with it.

Very relevant to today's American experience!

Graphic conceptualization of his plight, Told from a man who lived the unimaginable horror that was slavery!

Heartbreaking But Brilliantly Written

Any additional comments?

Douglass is a brillant writer, and I'm glad he was able to persist long enough to be able to write his memoir. Several things make this one of the best autobiographies I'd read:

He is truthful and when he don't know something, he says so directly. Although he obviously survived and overcome many adversities, he doesn't make it appear as a boast and it is this that makes his purpose, to call the audience to feel the need to take action no matter how slight. His honesty of his own actions is one of his greatest asset.

I really enjoyed this, and although what he had witnessed and gone through is heartbreaking, I also admire his courage of writing about the truth about slavery.

A Must Buy!

Where does Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I bought this because it was assigned reading for my history class, however it has led me to the rest of the works of Frederick Douglass. Probably falls under the heading of the best book I've gotten from Audible yet.

What did you like best about this story?

It was an historical account of slavery.

What about Walter Covell’s performance did you like?

Very emotive and compelling.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were parts that made me cry because I know that they really did happen.

a view into the life of a slave by the slave

It is sad the way men and women treated slaves. This should be required reading of American students. We need to learn from our mistakes.

Great Book!

This is the heart-breaking first-hand account by an American slave. Douglass was a wonderful orator and his writing sounds like a well-written speech. I look forward to reading his other autobiographies.

Audio fades in and out

This true story is incredible and the performance was on point. However, the audio fades in and out, sometimes from one word to the next, or even mid-word. I listened to the entirety via airbuds, and while I found the volume fluctuation irritating, it was not bothersome enough to disuade me from finishing the work and applauding the content.

Awesome Listen!

This humbling account is an enlightening rebuke to my lack of understanding and sincere gratitude for just how far African American people have come. Quite possibly now one of my favorite books.

As though at his feet.

important to note!

The beginning of this narrative changed volume in a subtle manner provoking some degree of annoyance but soon faded into a single level which became more pleasing to the ears and so it did before the real story begins. persevere and you may witness the priceless gem five dollars can buy.

I have not heard the voice of Walter Covell (the Narrator) nor that of Frederick Douglass but during this narration I thought them to be one and the same.

Near biblical is the revelation of this journey from child to manhood and slave to emancipation. A story which does no less than to move one and all who would hear it. To wisdom and thoughtfulness for all mankind, disregarding race and class.

Most prodigious was the convenience of hearing these words while doing field work and so afforded by a sum no greater than a small fraction of the cost for earning or learning of each hour.


Thank you Audible!
Craig G.