12 Years A Slave : A True Story

About the Book

12 Years A Slave: A True Story is a powerful memoir that exposes the harrowing reality of slavery in America. Solomon Northup's firsthand account of his twelve years of bondage is a haunting and courageous narrative that sheds light on the brutality and dehumanization endured by enslaved individuals. • A gripping true story that unveils the horrors of slavery. • Unflinching details that confront the reader with the harsh realities of the era. • An inspiring tale of resilience, hope, and the quest for freedom. • Historical significance as a valuable primary source on the African American experience. • A must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of America's dark past and the triumph of the human spirit.

About the Author
Born as a free man of colour in Minerva, New York, in July 1808, Solomon Northup received a decent education and worked at the family farm. He held numerous jobs, and charmed his audiences as a fiddler. In December 1829, he married Anne Hampton from whom he had three children. In 1841, Northup was tricked by two men who offered him a job and took him to Washington, D.C. where he was drugged and sold into slavery. He obtained freedom in January 1853, after being a slave for twelve years under several masters. The same year, he penned and published his memoir called Twelve Years a Slave. A slave narrative, it sold thirty thousand copies within three years of its publication, becoming a bestseller. Subsequently, Northup undertook lecture tours, speaking about slavery, and became an active abolitionist. His last public appearance was in 1857, after which he disappeared. Though the details of his later life are not known, he is believed to have died in 1863.