1.45k reviews for:

Twelve Years a Slave: Including; Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Solomon Northup, Frederick Douglass

4.23 AVERAGE

catladylover94's review against another edition

5.0

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really good book, i enjoyed the main character and his story, i loved the ending where he was free and got to see his family again

devonkong's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark informative reflective sad slow-paced

s_heimbach's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

lil_bibliophile's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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This is a very heavy book. Had to take multiple breaks due to this, but I'm glad I finished It through.  

diananegroiu's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

jonathanlibrarian's review against another edition

4.0

dark inspiring sad fast-paced

tallestbruce's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

whisper88's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Sexual harassment

bookchatwithbeth's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

k5tog's review against another edition

5.0

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12 Years a Slave is not an easy book to read. It is sad and horrifying and something every American should read so that they can understand what our society did to our fellow human beings.

This is a true account by a free black man who was born and lived in New York. When he was in his 30s, he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Louisiana. He tried to explain that he was a free man, but he was beaten so badly for claiming it that he was afraid to tell another person for 12 years. Luckily, he met someone who he was finally able to trust and who helped him to obtain his freedom.

His kidnappers remained unpunished despite being brought to trial. As a black man, Solomon was not allowed to testify against them. Not only was he kidnapped, but his kidnappers were able to go free - likely to kidnap others and condemn them to a life of slavery as well.