54 pages • 1 hour read
The Bondwoman's Narrative
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Book Brief
The Bondwoman's Narrative
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2002365
Novel • Fiction
Southern United States • 1850s
2002
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Bondwoman’s Narrative by Hannah Crafts, edited by Henry Louis Gates Jr., follows the harrowing journey of Hannah, an enslaved woman in Virginia and North Carolina, who escapes to New Jersey to seek freedom. She faces numerous obstacles, including betrayal, wrongful imprisonment, and the constant threat of being captured. The book is considered to be the first novel written by an African American female slave in the United States.
Mysterious
Contemplative
Emotional
Challenging
Dark
Reviews & Readership
28 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
The Bondwoman's Narrative, edited by Henry Louis Gates Jr., fascinates with its unprecedented glimpse into the 19th-century African-American woman's life. Readers praise its historical significance and narrative richness. However, some critique the editing and occasional repetitiveness. Overall, it’s an essential read for historical and literary insight.
Who Should Read The Bondwoman's Narrative?
A reader who enjoys The Bondwoman's Narrative by Hannah Crafts, edited by Henry Louis Gates Jr., would be captivated by historical novels and narratives of slavery. Fans of Harriet Jacobs' Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl and Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave will find this autobiographical novel compelling, enriched by Gates's scholarly insights.
28 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
The "Mistress"
The "Mistress"
Hannah's first female enslaver in the story, her mixed-race heritage complicates her identity and societal status. Her presence highlights themes of race and identity.
Mr. Trappe
Mr. Trappe
An antagonist who uses the truth of the "Mistress's" ancestry to extort her. His actions underscore the dangers characters face within the social structures of the time.
Mrs. Wheeler
Mrs. Wheeler
An antagonist introduced later in the story, she is a vain and vindictive woman who becomes a source of conflict for Hannah. Her actions emphasize the cruelty and injustices of slavery.
365
Novel • Fiction
Southern United States • 1850s
2002
Adult
18+ years
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