Reviews

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Written by Herself by Harriet Ann Jacobs

belanna2's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

annalynjustice's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad tense slow-paced

2.5

birdybird's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

5.0

This was a difficult read - but is an important one that delves into the physical and emotional brutality of slavery. The scenes where Jacob’s describes how she must remain physically distant from her children in such a cramped space, hearing their questions and cries for their mother is heartbreaking.

hopeloveslit's review against another edition

5.0

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is a heartbreaking and powerful slave narrative. This novel is remarkable and should be required reading in every US state. I read this book for the first time in high school, and the impact was immense! However, Jacobs’s story hit me so much harder as an adult.

Harriet’s unique point of view is a must-read. She wasn’t physically abused (which is rare for a slave.) That doesn’t make her story any less cruel because slavery in itself is evil. However, her experiences are notably different. I think this is very important because there’s this universal view of slavery. In reality, experiences vary from person to person, plantation to plantation, and so on.

Naturally, it’s mind-boggling to read about humans owning other humans. However, what sends me over the edge is the wicked dynamic of mothers purchasing themselves and their children. Can you imagine that? Hoping to one day make enough to buy your child? That is beyond my comprehension.

Overall, I’m glad I took the time to reread this narrative. I highly recommend this book. The various incidents throughout Jacob’s life shed light on a gut-wrenching side of the institution from a woman’s perspective. *TW: sexual violence*

agapsch's review against another edition

4.0

This was an incredible autobiography by a former American slave living in the 19th century. Jacobs was a very resilient woman, living in her grandmother's attic for 7 entire years to escape her slave master. I read this for my Women in American History class, and I definitely would recommend it as necessary reading. Jacobs highlights the unique experience of an enslaved women, even going as far as to argue that life for enslaved women was worse than enslaved men, due to the sexual abuse these women faced. I truly think this should be required reading, in lieu of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin (which I read in 11th grade).

kshreve93's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

4.0

uhhjeepers's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

*for school*

Harriet Ann Jacobs' story is devastating yet empowering, and everybody should have to read it within their lifetime. Her voice and recollection of events frequently made me cry, but I also frequently struggled to put it down when I had to. A necessary non-fiction read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Slavery

seybolda's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

5.0

thedisabledreader's review against another edition

interesting balance between genres, pseudonomy, and memoir

janwe's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0