Twelve Years a Slave

By: Solomon Northup

Narrated by: Richard Allen

Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

12 Years a Slave is the harrowing account of a Black man, born free in New York State, who was drugged, kidnapped, and sold into slavery in 1841. Having no way to contact his family, and fearing for his life if he told the truth, Solomon Northup was sold from plantation to plantation in Louisiana, toiling under cruel masters for 12 years before meeting Samuel Bass, a Canadian who finally put him in touch with his family, and helped start the process to regain his freedom. This extraordinary text is the basis for the major motion picture starring Chiwetel Ejiofor. 

Public Domain (P)2013 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Very important narrative undermined by the narrato

Would you consider the audio edition of Twelve Years a Slave to be better than the print version?

Absolutely not. In addition to the disastrous narration, the printed versions have supplemental materials that greatly enhance the work.

What did you like best about this story?

Condensing an enormous problem into a personal story.

How could the performance have been better?

The narration could have drawn the reader into the story and scenes therein, rather than making the reader feel as if he/she were a member of an audience or congregation listening to a speech or sermon being delivered.

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

Start to finish, to tell you the truth.

Any additional comments?

Pick up the book, and enjoy it 10x as much.

Narrator, Richard Allen, Excellent

What did you love best about Twelve Years a Slave?

The story is gripping. The narrator brings it to life.

What does Richard Allen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Marvelous voice for the main character

Dictionary

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Words that did not require a dictionary or not having to wait until the whole sentence or paragraph was read to know exactly what the author was talking about.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Did not finish the book

Would you be willing to try another one of Richard Allen’s performances?

No

What character would you cut from Twelve Years a Slave?

Did not finish the book.

Everyone should read or listen to this.

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

The truth and honesty that was not always pleasant to hear.
The way in which people can survive in the most inhumane situations and still have faith and show kindness to on another.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Solomon northup because he was a genuine kind person whom survived and done the best he could always.

Have you listened to any of Richard Allen’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I haven't listened to any other performances by Richard Allen and if completely honest it took me a couple of chapters to relate to his voice but once I heard more I could imagine completely that it was how Solomon spoke and by the end of the audio I loved his voice. I would be happy listening to him many more times.

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

All of the above. I felt so moved that it once was part of our society and cried many times at the cruelty people showed to others. I have always felt very strongly that slavery is and was disgusting and found the part about how the slaves were whipped for pleasure and they would also be so cruelly whipped for the slightest thing. The 10 year old boy whom would also command the slaves to be whipped as he saw that was what his father did. I cried but enjoyed the audio.

Any additional comments?

Everyone should take time to listen or read this as it it part of our history and I would hope that it inpacts readers in the way it should.