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A review by saritaroth
Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup
3.0
I did enjoy this book somewhat or rather I was pulled in by the heartbreaking true story of Solomon Northup. Northup was a free man living in the North who ends up being kidnapped and sold into slavery. He is forced to leave behind his wife and two children and is not returned to them until twelve years later when he is finally rescued by friends. In the meantime, those twelve years are spent in utter degradation and unspeakable violence. Slavery alone is a terrifying atrocity, but the fact that a free man can be made to suffer the same kind of torture at the hands of madmen as a slave can is a travesty. Although, as I said, the book was boring in parts, I think I would recommend it if only so that you can educate yourself further about one of America's most damning institutions in history.
This story was also made into a movie that actually won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong'o as Patsey), and Best Adapted Screenplay. The movie also starred Benedict Cumberbatch as the benevolent plantation boss, Ford, and Michael Fassbender as the sadistic plantation boss, Epps. The two bosses, Ford and Epps, showed the true dichotomy between the two different styles of managing slaves. Chiwetel Ejiofor was cast in the role of Solomon Northup and, although both he and Michael Fassbender were nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively, neither gentleman won. In the important areas, the movie and book were very similar; there were only a couple small differences in the storyline. The movie also cut short the descriptions of how to harvest cane and cotton, a fact that I much appreciated.
This story was also made into a movie that actually won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong'o as Patsey), and Best Adapted Screenplay. The movie also starred Benedict Cumberbatch as the benevolent plantation boss, Ford, and Michael Fassbender as the sadistic plantation boss, Epps. The two bosses, Ford and Epps, showed the true dichotomy between the two different styles of managing slaves. Chiwetel Ejiofor was cast in the role of Solomon Northup and, although both he and Michael Fassbender were nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively, neither gentleman won. In the important areas, the movie and book were very similar; there were only a couple small differences in the storyline. The movie also cut short the descriptions of how to harvest cane and cotton, a fact that I much appreciated.