Frederick Douglass

In the most seminal slave narrative ever written, Frederick Douglass writes, "From my earliest recollection, I date the entertainment of a deep conviction that slavery would not always be able to hold me within its foul embrace and in the darkest hours of my career in slavery, this living word of faith and spirit of hope departed not from me, but remained like ministering angels to cheer me through the gloom." Reading this narrative is to witness...

Former slave, impassioned abolitionist, brilliant writer, newspaper editor and eloquent orator whose speeches fired the abolitionist cause, Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) led an astounding life. Physical abuse, deprivation and tragedy plagued his early years, yet through sheer force of character he was able to overcome these obstacles to become a leading spokesman for his people.
In this, the first and most frequently read of his three autobiographies,...

A compilation of insightful essays and speeches by the renowned abolitionist and orator, Frederick Douglass. This collection brings together some of his most powerful and eloquent writings on the issues of slavery, freedom, and racial justice, showcasing his intellectual brilliance and tireless advocacy for the rights of African Americans. Through his incisive analysis and powerful rhetoric, Douglass challenges the prevailing views of his time and...

In "My Escape from Slavery," Frederick Douglass reveals the missing piece of his autobiography, in a tale that could not have been told without endangering others while slavery continued to exist. In "The Destiny of Colored Americans," he looks to the future.

"In the first narrative of my experience in slavery, written nearly forty years ago, and in various writings since, I have given the public what I considered very good reasons for withholding

...

This volume compiles original source material that illustrates the complex relationship between Frederick Douglass and the city of Brooklyn. Most prominent are the speeches the abolitionist gave at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Plymouth Church, and other leading Brooklyn institutions. Whether discussing the politics of the Civil War or recounting his relationships with Abraham Lincoln and John Brown, Douglass's towering voice sounds anything but...

"Edited by Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer David W. Blight, this Library of America edition is the largest single-volume selection of Frederick Douglass's writings ever published, presenting the full texts of thirty-four speeches and sixty-seven pieces of journalism. As a special feature the volume also presents Douglas's only foray into fiction, the 1853 novella "The Heroic Slave," about Madison Washington, leader of the real-life insurrection...

Four of the most important and enduring American slave narratives together in one volume.
Until slavery was abolished in 1865, millions of men, women, and children toiled under a system that stripped them of their freedom and their humanity. Much has been written about this shameful era of American history, but few books speak with as much power as the narratives written by those who experienced slavery firsthand.
 
The...