Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave

Born into a life of bondage, Frederick Douglass secretly taught himself to read and write. It was a crime punishable by death, but as a result we possess one of the most eloquent indictments of slavery ever recorded. His gripping narrative takes us into the fields, cabins, and manors of the pre-Civil War plantations in the South and reveals the daily terrors he suffered as a slave.

Written more than a century ago by this African-American who went on to become a famous orator, U.S. minister to Haiti, and a leader of his people, this timeless classic still speaks directly to our age. It is a record of savagery and inhumanity that goes far to explain why America still suffers from the great injustices of the past.

Cover art: CORBIS-BETTMANN

Description from back cover