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A review by crystalisreading
Life and Times of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
5.0
I'm at a loss how to review a book like this. it seems too important of a piece of history and literature to matter what my mere opinion is. But here goes. I was introduced to Frederick Douglass through his first memoir (sadly not as part of my schooling--shame on my school), and was completely swept away by him. His passion for freedom and justice and right vs. wrong spoke to me, and he instantly joined the pantheon of my heroes. HE also inspired me to read his third and final memoir, which was a significantly larger volume. I took my time reading this book. There was a lot to digest, and while there were many utterly engaging narratives and brilliant insights, there were also sections that slowed down the narrative a lot, especially towards the end of the book, where Douglass included verbatim many speeches/ articles/ essays both by and/or about him. Some of them were really long, and I think listening to this book on audio in the car didn't serve me well in fully appreciating those sections.
However, the vast majority of this book swept me away and enforced more than ever what an amazing person Douglass was. How he came so far and achieved so much, despite the horrible circumstances of his birth and youth, and the never-ending prejudices he faced as a man of color in the United States. Multiple times throughout the book I found myself wanting to write down lines of his writing. His insights into the United States' decline into the Civil War were especially timely and yet concerning, when compared with the obvious parallels in current life to what he described of his experience and observations of that time.
the chapter where he addresses women's suffrage had me cheering aloud in my car. What an amazing heritage his book and even more so his life leaves to the world. I intend to buy a copy of this book to keep in my permanent library, and am looking for even more books about him. I'll end with one of my favorite quotations: "For no man who lives at all, lives unto himself. He either helps or hinders all who are in anywise connected to him."
However, the vast majority of this book swept me away and enforced more than ever what an amazing person Douglass was. How he came so far and achieved so much, despite the horrible circumstances of his birth and youth, and the never-ending prejudices he faced as a man of color in the United States. Multiple times throughout the book I found myself wanting to write down lines of his writing. His insights into the United States' decline into the Civil War were especially timely and yet concerning, when compared with the obvious parallels in current life to what he described of his experience and observations of that time.
the chapter where he addresses women's suffrage had me cheering aloud in my car. What an amazing heritage his book and even more so his life leaves to the world. I intend to buy a copy of this book to keep in my permanent library, and am looking for even more books about him. I'll end with one of my favorite quotations: "For no man who lives at all, lives unto himself. He either helps or hinders all who are in anywise connected to him."