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Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave: A Library of America Paperback Classic by Frederick Douglass

4.14 AVERAGE

possibleghost's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad slow-paced

genericktag's review against another edition

5.0
A powerful autobiography that opens ones eyes to the experience of slavery and the cruelty and horror behind it. This is a seminal piece of history and activism. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

lottie1803's review against another edition

4.25
emotional informative reflective medium-paced
mk92's profile picture

mk92's review against another edition

5.0
challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced
leslieirvine's profile picture

leslieirvine's review against another edition

5.0
To say this book gave me an understanding of slavery would be a gross oversimplification and a disservice to the men and women who had to experience the depths of human depravity and cruelty.

But this book was a window into a world I am so very lucky to say I can scarcely imagine. This book is truly a glimpse into some of the most disgusting acts performed under the false guise of “Christianity” by “good white men”.

Thank you, Frederick Douglass.
reflejx's profile picture

reflejx's review against another edition

4.0
This work is a visceral account of Douglass' childhood and teenage years, during which time he was enslaved, abused, and oppressed by Southerners in the United States. Douglass seems to have had a sense of this injustice from a young age, and was clearly not one to accept his situation without a fight -- which, as he notes, is not to say that others were meek (even though the quality of meekness is so praised in the specific form of Christianity fed to slaves, something the author strongly criticizes), but rather that they were afraid their families and friends would be harmed, which is something Douglass himself tries to avoid as well. The fact that he wrote this at such a young age (he was around 27, and had escaped not ten years before), with eloquence and consideration, speaks to his power as a narrator and as a first-hand witness and victim. One can also tell Douglass took great care to protect those who helped him as well as himself, which further reinforces the significance and relevance of his narrative in pre-abolition America.

emmavardy2's review against another edition

5.0
adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
Essential reading.
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hwestenhofer's profile picture

hwestenhofer's review against another edition

5.0
Not only is this a socio-historically important text, but Douglass is an immaculate writer who captivates you, making it challenging to pull yourself away from this critical work. Tracing his enslavement, Douglass illuminates chattel slavery's numerous horrors in addition to the beginning's of the United States' systemic issues. He argues against the institution of slavery as well as argues for the empowerment of Black folk following liberation. This book contains some challenging subject matter, but it is nevertheless essential for all Americans to read. I highly recommend this book because of its critical importance but also because of Douglass's astute literary talent.

1234asantewaa's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

bgrace777's review against another edition

5.0
challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced