Twelve Years Slave Dover Thrift Editions: A Powerful and Moving Account

Twelve Years a Slave is a harrowing and deeply moving memoir by Solomon Northup, an African-American man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the pre-Civil War United States. Published in 1853, the book tells the story of Northup's twelve years of enslavement and his eventual escape to freedom.

Twelve Years a Slave (Dover Thrift Editions: Black History)

by Solomon Northup

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2461 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	206 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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The book was an instant bestseller and has since become a classic of American literature. It has been praised for its unflinching honesty, its vivid depiction of the horrors of slavery, and its powerful indictment of racism.

Twelve Years a Slave has been adapted into several films and television shows, including a critically acclaimed 2013 film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor. The book continues to be widely read and taught in schools and colleges, and it remains a powerful reminder of the horrors of slavery and the resilience of the human spirit.

Plot Summary

Twelve Years a Slave begins with Northup's kidnapping in 1841. Northup was a free man living in Saratoga Springs, New York, when he was lured to Washington, D.C. by two men posing as businessmen. Once in Washington, Northup was drugged and sold into slavery.

Northup spent the next twelve years enslaved on various plantations in Louisiana and Mississippi. He was subjected to brutal treatment, including whippings, beatings, and sexual abuse. He was also forced to witness the horrors of slavery, including the sale of children and the separation of families.

Despite the horrors he endured, Northup never gave up hope of freedom. In 1853, he finally escaped from slavery with the help of a sympathetic white man. He returned to New York and wrote his memoir, which was published to great acclaim.

Characters

Solomon Northup: The protagonist of the novel, Northup is a free black man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery. He is a strong and resilient man who endures the horrors of slavery with dignity and determination.

Edwin Epps: The cruel and sadistic owner of the plantation where Northup is enslaved for most of the novel. Epps is a brutal tyrant who delights in torturing his slaves.

Patsey: A young slave woman who is brutally abused by Epps. Patsey is a kind and gentle woman who endures her suffering with grace and dignity.

Themes

Twelve Years a Slave explores a number of important themes, including:

• The horrors of slavery: Northup's memoir provides a unflinching look at the horrors of slavery. He describes the brutal treatment, the sexual abuse, and the psychological damage that slavery inflicted on its victims.
• The resilience of the human spirit: Despite the horrors he endured, Northup never gave up hope of freedom. He maintained his dignity and his sense of self-worth, even in the face of unimaginable cruelty.
• The importance of freedom: Northup's memoir is a powerful reminder of the importance of freedom. He writes about the joy and the relief he felt when he finally escaped from slavery. He also writes about the importance of fighting for freedom, both for oneself and for others.

Literary Significance

Twelve Years a Slave is a powerful and moving account of the horrors of slavery. It is a classic of American literature that has been praised for its unflinching honesty, its vivid depiction of the horrors of slavery, and its powerful indictment of racism. The book continues to be widely read and taught in schools and colleges, and it remains a powerful reminder of the horrors of slavery and the resilience of the human spirit.

Twelve Years a Slave is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the horrors of slavery and the resilience of the human spirit. It is a powerful and moving account that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Twelve Years a Slave (Dover Thrift Editions: Black History)

by Solomon Northup

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2461 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	206 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE