Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

An American Slave

By: Frederick Douglass

Narrated by: Raymond Hearn

This classic of American literature, a dramatic autobiography of the early life of an American slave, was first published in 1845, when its author had just achieved his freedom. It is a story that shocked the world with its first-hand account of the horrors of slavery. The book was an incredible success. It sold over 30,000 copies and was an international best seller. His eloquence gives a clear indication of the powerful principles that led Douglas to become the first great African-American leader in the United States.

Public Domain (P)2015 Gildan Media LLC

A Must Listen...

I am of the opinion that a true discussion on the horrors of slavery cannot be had until one has either read or listened to this book. I have very much enjoyed this variation of “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass”, as I found the reader’s energy infectious. I doubt anyone listening to this audiobook will be disappointed.

Life changing!!

I really have a new found respect for “physical” freedom as a young black man in America. Just to think that my great great grandfather and grandmother were either slaves or the children of slaves is sobering. This book gives me a deep desire to work hard, learn more about my ancestry, take life seriously, and educate myself to the highest degree possible. I understand that going to school, knowing how to read, write and spell, and being able to earn money and not have to work for free and undergo constant abuse, whippings, cruel beatings, and such demoralizing systematic engineering they my ancestors experience for 400 plus years. This book is a must read for every American, especially black Americans. This book display very vivid and sometimes overwhelming scenes of a slave interacting with is so called “master”, to what real struggle looks like, to the wonderful wordsmith Mr. Douglass truly was. He is one the greatest descriptive and narrative authors of all time. It was like I was there with him when things happened to him on the plantations. I will read it many more times!!

Amazing first person slave narrative!

You should know that this version of his biography does not include him telling how he escaped slavery. He included that in later versions of his biography, after the civil war.

He does a great job of explaining the horrors of slavery. You learn a lot about what human is capable of when given complete power over someone or a group of people.

Douglas learns how to respond when slave masters become violent. He learns the basics of how to read/write from a wife of one of his owners and then the rest from young boys in the city of Baltimore.

This is a must read for anyone interested in pre-civil war history of the United States!

An American Classic!

I had to become familiar with this book again for a college course and I had forgotten how much I enjoyed listening to it rather than reading it again. Both quick to do and inspiring for all interested in the America's story.

Wonderful Book, Wonderful Narration

This is a moving and eloquent memoir. I was deeply touched by Frederick Douglass and his story.

Outstanding

Excellent narration of an excellent chronicle of man's inhumanity to man. This should be required reading in every school.

Humbled

To be in any part a relation to the noble creature this book is about. To share a nation name or feature in any quantity is a humbeling honor.

I approach each day with renewed vigor and cast aside my mewling protests at hardship. I re dedicate my life to freeing my self from all that would contain it or my fellow man with renewed vigor, drunk solely on the words passed down to me through time from one Frederick Douglas.

Powerful

I sincerely loved everything about this book! What an amazing man, tremendous life, and powerful message!

READ OR LISTEN TO THIS BOOK

Everyone needs to reminded of how horrible people were and can be treated. Let’s not do this again. Share this book with all and let’s don’t forget the cruelty.

Obvious classic, but why mispronounce Massachusetts?

It’s very distracting to hear “Massachusetts” be pronounced “Mass-a-two-shits”... especially when the reader is a character from the state. Living in Texas for a decade, I knew one person who made this mispronunciation and always thought it was just that one person who didn’t know phonics or something. It’s very distracting because it really sounds like an insulting and deliberate dig at the state, ala grade school playground. For those who are reading this review, please understand that Massachusetts is pronounced exactly as it reads: “Mass-ah-chew-sets”.

-A Massachusetts Reader