The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass [with Biographical Introduction]

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. By Frederick Douglass Introduction by Ira Dworkin Edited by Ira Dworkin.
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Great book with fabulous historical value. I recommend this to all readers mature enough to handle the content and details of slavery. What an inspirational book!! An elaborate historical account slavery. The author, self taught to read and write, eloquently recounts personal experiences, intruduces individuals who passionately fought against the institution of human bondage and explains the colaboration which finally succeeded in ending the legallization of slavery. I strongly reccommend this book.

Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave

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Write a review Rate this item: However, Douglass became wise to his enforced ignorance; he quickly learnt that his path to freedom resided in his education. So, after a few brief lessons with a kind, and temporary, mistress he set about learning how to read in any way he could; he learnt from dockworkers and poor white children, and began to see a route to liberty through his increasing knowledge of the world.

At this point in his life, he only witnessed barbarity rather than being subjugated to it. In this he was lucky, but that luck was to quickly run out. As he grew older his learning opportunities dwindled, as did his hope. He was contracted out to a brute of an owner who was the very image of a sadist slaver. His new master was terrible and vicious. He almost broke Douglass, but his strength of will bounced back and managed to keep him on his feet. He learnt to strike back with such vigour that his master, who had a reputation for breaking unruly slaves, actually began to fear Douglass.

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He quickly got rid of him, and fortune sent him into the hands of a former, and gentler, master. Luck was in his favour again. It seems rather ironic to speak of a slave as having such luck, but when considering that very few successfully escaped their bonds it becomes clear that Douglass had a very fortunate opportunity in front of him.

In truth, very few were allowed such liberty, and in the process presented with a narrow window of escape, which Douglass quickly leapt through. This is such an interesting narrative; it is frank, clear and powerful. There are no literary embellishments here. Instead, Douglass provides you with the harsh, and straightforward, truth of his life. View all 3 comments. This book is not an important historical document to be placed in a glass case and venerated during Black History Month.

It should be read by all, regardless of race or creed, as a warning against prejudice and oppression. Douglass' description of the cruel conditions of slavery is mind-searing. His analysis of the system which fostered and condoned it shows amazing depth. He shows that slavery made wretched the lives of the victims but that it also warped the perpetrators, and created a regime i This book is not an important historical document to be placed in a glass case and venerated during Black History Month. He shows that slavery made wretched the lives of the victims but that it also warped the perpetrators, and created a regime in which people were afraid to object to injustice.

That a man could rise from such abject conditions, get an education, and not only share his knowledge with others but become a guiding star of the abolitionist movement is remarkable. That he could be a good Christian and remain untainted by racial prejudice is a testament to his greatness of soul.

View all 17 comments. Sep 10, Jason Koivu rated it it was amazing Shelves: Powerful, eloquent and utterly moving, especially considering it was written by a man who taught himself how to read and write while a slave. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass regrettably does not go into detail regarding the particulars of Douglass' escape to freedom.

Having written his memoirs while slavery was still ongoing, he was afraid to reveal his methods for fear of endangering the lives of those who assisted him, as well as potentially shutting down an avenue of escape fo Powerful, eloquent and utterly moving, especially considering it was written by a man who taught himself how to read and write while a slave. Having written his memoirs while slavery was still ongoing, he was afraid to reveal his methods for fear of endangering the lives of those who assisted him, as well as potentially shutting down an avenue of escape for other slaves after him.

The reader must respect that and be satisfied with his well articulated descriptions of life in the south while serving under white masters. With these, I learned mainly how to write. Yes, Douglass did write this book himself; No, he was not against Christianity, only a staunch opponent of hypocritical Christians; No, he did not promote hatred of man - his hate was of slavery. The hearth is desolate. The "…My copybook was the board-fence, brick wall, and pavement; my pen and ink was a lump of chalk.

The children, the unconscious children, who once sang and danced in her presence, are gone. She gropes her way, in the darkness of age, for a drink of water. Instead of the voices of her children, she hears by day the moans of the dove, and by night the screams of the hideous owl. The grave is at the door. This is Douglass' grandmother he speaks of, the woman who after raising generations of her "master's" family, after increasing her "master's" wealth by training generations of her family, she is sent out into the woods in her old age, to live her remaining years alone, while her family is taken away from her and sold.

After all, she is of no use to him now. The more I embrace slave narratives, the more I learn that the good ones always teach new things the big screen hasn't fully capitalized upon. So this one again highlighted the horrific chaining and whipping of slave women who stirred jealousy within their slave owners, but it goes a step further into showing how the wives of slave owners were also brutal murderers and slave beaters.

We don't see this highlighted too often, just as we don't see this too often: I tried to envision how a slave like Douglass could ever become close to a woman, after viewing the treatment of his mother, aunt, and grandmother later, his wife and daughter will die before he did.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave - Wikipedia

How could generations of black families survive, let alone thrive, in such environments? In that case, why expect this narrative to be anything less than the brutally honest, passionate, indignant pathos that it is? Douglass lived with siblings but didn't even see them as family - always wanting to get away, always seeking freedom, always distrusting of others. He saw education as his ticket out of slavery, but once he became educated, he realized how much of a burden it was: It had given me a view of my wretched condition, without the remedy…in moments of agony, I envied my fellow slaves for their stupidity.

I have often wished myself a beast…anything, no matter what, to get rid of thinking! He didn't believe in revealing too many secrets of his escape at times even referring to how the underground railway had become the upperground railway , or of the abolitionists and teenage friends who helped educate him. I read this years ago but once I started reading, the language and tone lured me and kept me involved until the end.

To read this American classic and historical treasure, I suggest the Barnes and Noble Classics Edition for the great notes and letters from abolitionists, the time outline, and scholarly introduction and notations. View all 19 comments.


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Jun 12, James rated it really liked it Shelves: Book Review I first read the biographical introduction about Frederick Douglass and learned many new things. I knew he wrote a few autobiographies, but I never knew that he spanned them over 40 years of writing and that he lived for close to 80 years.

I then read both the preface by Garrison and the letter to Douglas. They were excellent introductions to the narrative by Frederick Douglass. It really prepares you for the glory in the words and language. You realize how much Douglass meant to the enslaved people. It also gives you an overwhelming sense of sullen melancholy. It is very powerful and emotional. Douglass work definitely is effective. It moves the reader deeply.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave

All I can say about book 1 is that I was utterly repulsed by what I read. How any person could do that to another human being because their skin is a different color is absolutely hideous. I was so angry that I wanted to just scream out profanities to the slaveholders. I could see the apple red blood drip to the floor almost like it was an IV at times when he whipped her so much there was hardly any blood left.

I wonder though if this was an exaggeration. In Book 2, at least we learn that the slaves are treated a little better at times. They go for a walk to the Great Farm House if they are a representative which gives them some time to themselves without the fear of a whipping. They sing songs and have a little bit of fun at least: I was so upset by this. No joy and forced to go through all that they did.

Also, the rations they received were so minute. I wonder how they ever survived. The garden that was near the plantation was nice. It would give the slaves something to look at, except that it also tempted them to steal some fruit and vegetables, which would result in severe punishing. And all of this so far, happened when Frederick was still just a child. It was almost as if they purposely set them up using spies, etc. To try and catch them in the act.

I think that is incredibly inhumane and awful. If I have this many feelings about the narrative so far, it just shoes how great an author Douglass is.


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    4. He is able to capture attention and make you yell out in angst against the evil masters and overseers. By the end of Book 6, we learn that Douglass has learned how to read and write. He has also learned what an abolitionist is. He begins to see more out into real life, rather than the life of a slave.

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    He has been through several new masters, some good and some bad. Also, during this time, he tells the readers that it is better off to be dead than to be a black slave in 19th century America. In later books we learn that it is especially horrible when you have been treated nicely as a slave and then you go to a plantation where they treat you despicably. Douglass is extremely effective at showing his audience this. Douglass also tells how he was shipped all over the place whenever his masters died or got tired of him.

    FREDERICK DOUGLASS - FULL AudioBook

    I see how it becomes a game again. I also see that maybe the slaves could be compared to the life of a nomad who has no one common place to stay. Not an easy one to read, but important to understand how bad the situation was. Hearing about it or knowing of it is one thing. Reading specifics is entirely another. About Me For those new to me or my reviews I read A LOT.

    I write A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https: Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. What a powerful piece of writing this is. Slavery is such an ugly part of American history, and this narrative tells all of the ordeals that Frederick Douglass had to overcome, including whippings, beatings, hunger, tyrannical masters, backbreaking labor, and horrible living conditions.

    Douglass was born in Maryland in , but even that year is a guess because slaves were generally not allowed to know their birthdate. He knew little of his mother because the master sent her away, and then she What a powerful piece of writing this is. He knew little of his mother because the master sent her away, and then she died while Douglass was still a child. It was whispered that his father was the master, but he had no way of knowing for certain.

    There are some horrifying stories in this narrative. But there is also inspiration, because we know Douglass was able to escape and live freely. My favorite part was when Douglass explained how he learned to read and write after he was shipped off to a master's house in Baltimore. He was very clever and had to learn in secret, because his master had said that slaves shouldn't learn to read because it would make them miserable and unmanageable.

    But Douglass couldn't stand the thought of being a slave for life, and he knew he had to learn to read if he wanted to run away. As many of these as I could, I converted into teachers. With their kindly aid, obtained at different times and in different places, I finally succeeded in learning to read.

    When I was sent on errands, I always took my book with me, and by going one part of my errand quickly, I found time to get a lesson before my return. I used also to carry bread with me This bread I used to bestow upon the hungry little urchins, who, in return, would give me that more valuable bread of knowledge. I could regard them in no other light than a band of successful robbers, who had left their homes, and gone to Africa, and stolen us from our homes, and in a strange land reduced us to slavery.

    I loathed them as the meanest as well as the most wicked of men. As I read and contemplated the subject, behold! As I writhed under it, I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing. It had given me a view of my wretched condition, without the remedy. It opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but to no ladder upon which to get out. In moments of agony, I envied my fellow slaves for their stupidity. I have often wished myself a beast.

    He was able to marry and became a passionate advocate for abolition. I highly recommend this narrative. It is impossible to conceive of a greater mistake. Slaves sing most when they are most unhappy. The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart; and he is relieved by them, only as an aching heart is relieved by its tears. At least, such is my experience. I have often sung to drown my sorrow, but seldom to express my happiness.

    Crying for joy, and singing for joy, were alike uncommon to me while in the jaws of slavery. The singing of a man cast away upon a desolate island might be as appropriately considered as evidence of contentment and happiness, as the singing of a slave; the songs of the one and of the other are prompted by the same emotion.

    Were I to be again reduced to the chains of slavery, next to that enslavement, I should regard being the slave of a religious master the greatest calamity that could befall me. For of all slaveholders with whom I have ever met, religious slaveholders are the worst. I have ever found them the meanest and basest, the most cruel and cowardly, of all others. View all 4 comments. This is unfortunate, as exposure to this at a younger age may have made my frame of references less solidified, Moby Dick over here and slavery narratives of there and all the usual sorts of aborted cross-reference and false literary linearity.

    These days, I am not as suspect to being fenced in by required reading in academia, but there are some still some sick 4. These days, I am not as suspect to being fenced in by required reading in academia, but there are some still some sickening traces of surprise at how a specific author was writing at a certain time that really does need to be gotten over. If there's one thing I learned from my concurrent reading of Dhalgren , it's that I have a very restricted view of how writing of "quality" comes to be that, ultimately, is very harmful indeed.

    So, what constituted that elitist surprise? On the whole, it was the matter of how this read very much like a psychological bildungsroman with a wonderful sense of prose and a swift and easy manner of outer description and inner self. Frederick Douglass not only had a keen interest in presenting his own life, but also in how slavery continues to work itself into the framework of society and its social animals.

    The result is a piece which, if any white person at the time had wanted to write in a similar vein, would be comparable to a memoir that continually focused on the effects of US conceptual "freedom" on the memoirist's growth to maturity. While there's probably a few out there that come close to the mark you can't step into the surface knowledge of the 's without squashing a few dozen names of physiognomic worth and solipsistic character , it's doubtful any achieve a comparable moral imperative.

    Being the person I am, that manner of thematic engagement matters a lot, so deal. That does it for the general level. On the more specific level, passages of note include Douglass' analyses of holidays in lands of legalized slavery, his imbibed assumption that a society could not be well-off without the overt systematic owning of human beings, and his scorn for, in his words, the "upperground" railroad; or, Liberal White People Fucking Over Others With "Help" Since He remains as eloquent throughout this face-palm as he does in his fervent condemnation of the machine that controlled his upbringing, which reads well so long as once doesn't prescribe it in a fit of respectability politics to those who continue his efforts today.

    Things have changed since Douglass' day, and protests of a different nature are required for making this modern day public squirm. View all 9 comments. Feb 08, Paul rated it it was amazing Shelves: This is a very brief first volume of a three volume autobiography. It is moving, powerful and horrific portrait of slavery in one of the so-called more humane slave states in the s and s.

    It is an important historical document, but is also much more than that; published in it opened a window for the general public in the north who knew little about the inner workings of slavery.