88 pages • 2 hours read
Twelve Years a Slave
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Book Brief
363
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Southern United States • 1840s
1853
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup recounts Northup's harrowing experience as a free Black man from New York who was kidnapped and sold into slavery, enduring 12 years in the Deep South. He navigates brutal conditions on various plantations before regaining his freedom. The memoir critically examines the cruelty and systemic injustices of American slavery. The narrative includes scenes of physical and psychological abuse.
Dark
Challenging
Emotional
Informative
Inspirational
Reviews & Readership
155,753 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup is lauded for its powerful firsthand account of slavery and its detailed, vivid narrative. Readers appreciate its historical significance and emotional depth but find its language challenging at times due to its period-specific style. Overall, it is an eye-opening, essential read for understanding American history and the resilience of the human spirit.
Who Should Read Twelve Years a Slave?
Readers passionate about American history, slavery narratives, and personal resilience will find Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup compelling. Comparably, fans of Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe or Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs will be enthralled by Northup's vivid and poignant account.
155,753 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
363
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Southern United States • 1840s
1853
Adult
18+ years
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