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Solomon Northup

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Twelve Years a Slave Kindle Edition

by Solomon Northup (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.5 3,248 ratings

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The harrowing true story that inspired the critically acclaimed film
The son of a freed slave, Solomon Northup lived the first thirty years of his life as a free man in upstate New York. In the spring of 1841, he was offered a job: a short-term, lucrative engagement as a violinist in a traveling circus. It was a trap. In Washington, DC, Northup was drugged, kidnapped, and sold into slavery. He spent the next twelve years on plantations in Louisiana, enduring backbreaking labor, unimaginable violence, and inhumane treatment at the hands of cruel masters, until a kind stranger helped to win his release. His account of those years is a shocking, unforgettable portrait of America’s most insidious historical institution as told by a man who experienced it firsthand.
Published shortly after Harriet Beecher Stowe’s abolitionist classic Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Northup’s memoir became a bestseller in 1853. With its eloquent depiction of life before and after bondage, Twelve Years a Slave was a unique and effective entry into the national debate over slavery. Rediscovered in the 1960s and now the inspiration for a major motion picture, Northup’s poignant narrative gives readers an invaluable glimpse into a shameful chapter of American history. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A moving, vital testament." - --Saturday Review

About the Author

Solomon Northup (1808–1857) was a free-born African American from Saratoga Springs, New York. In 1841, he was kidnapped and forced into slavery for twelve years. With the help of his family and his father’s former master, Northup ultimately won his freedom and took the traders who betrayed him to court. He is best known for his autobiographical account of his enslavement, Twelve Years a Slave.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00HO12CS6
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media (January 28, 2014)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 28, 2014
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2731 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 162 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #246,159 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #56 in History of the U.S. Confederacy
- #63 in Abolition History of the U.S.
- #311 in American Civil War Biographies (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 3,248 ratings

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Solomon Northup

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Solomon Northup (1808–1857) was a free-born African American from Saratoga Springs, New York. In 1841, he was kidnapped and forced into slavery for twelve years. With the help of his family and his father’s former master, Northup ultimately won his freedom and took the traders who betrayed him to court. He is best known for his autobiographical account of his enslavement, Twelve Years a Slave.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

3,248 global ratings

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Jim Schmidt

"[Young Master Epps] looked upon the black man simply as an animal..."

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2016

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When I read a "classic" I always like to look at old newspapers to see what reviews looked like when it was first printed - one of my favorites for this one was from the "New York Independent" and copied in the "Green-Mountain Freeman" of Vermont, Sept. 1, 1853:

"Let it be read by all those good easy souls who think slavery is, on the whole, a good thing. Let it be read by all who think although slavery is politically and economically a bad thing, it id not very bad for thr slaves. Let it be read by all those M. C.' and supporters who are always ready to give their votes in aid of Slavery and the slave trade with all the kidnapping inseparable from it. Let it be read, too, by our Southern friends who pity with so much christian sensibility the wretched condition of the free negroes at the north, and rejoice at the enviable condition of their own slaves."

I've been meaning to read the actual book since first seeing the movie - the film actually holds very close to his account and any artistic decisions made in the film in terms of consolidation, etc., do not compromise the original story, in my opinion. Northup was a remarkable man - observant, talented, loving, and strong. This is the second slave narrative I've read (Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl was the first) - they make for very affecting reading and contemplation. I do hope t read the annotated Eakin/Logsdon version in the future. There are some thrilling parts that did not make it into the film - including his brief escape into the alligator- and snake-infested swamps of the locale in which he was held in bondage. Until you read about the treatment of abolition-minded folks in the South, you can;t appreciate the real risks that Bass took in expressing his opinion and communicating w/ the North on Solomon's behalf - it was heroic. But Solomon's struggle and maintenance of hope is even more so. The description of the beatings, exploitation, slave markets, etc., are unsparing in their detail.

Highly recommended.

14 people found this helpful

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Alex B

A narrative of slavery that will leave an indelible mark.

Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2022

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A superb narrative into slavery and written from a different view point- a former slave. The book is a classic and written in a simple narrative style. Unfortunately it will drag you into doing a lot more research to what happened to the author. A great read!

Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2022

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As a young man in his early 30s, this book really makes you think. While my life and Solomon’s couldn’t have been further apart, I connected with his writings through his intellect, dreams, will, and his fight. A tragic tale of the worst of humanity and the triumph and perseverance of a truly great man. In such divided times, Solomon’s perspective could teach us all how to be better and more understanding, while reminding us of the horrors of the past.

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Bookworm

Good book but others on this subject are so much better.

Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2015

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The only reason this book received an Oscar is it was by a Black producer and black filmmaker and the Academy felt they needed to give it the Oscar or get rath by the black community. This book was a good book but certainly not the best on the subject of slavery. Many, many others I have read are so much better. The writing first of all was definitely not told by the man himself. The words were far too advanced for anyone during that time frame let alone someone who became a slave. I thought the book was good but no where near great and certainly not motion picture worthy. Some of this book I think was purely the imagination of either the writer or the story teller. I rather doubt this man as a slave beat his master and would live to tell about it. Things were too unfair and brutal back then that he would have survived such an occurrence. No doubt the treatment was exactly as he suggested but again this was not a great book.

3 people found this helpful

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S Nelson

Heart wrenching

Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2024

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Exceptionally reviewed his treatment as a kidnapped freeman bound into slavery. And the generality of the culture & its citizens.

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Seth Holmes

Such horrible insight into slavery...

Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2016

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Most people have seen the movie based on this book, it only tells part of the story.

Solomon Northup tells a gripping tale of his time in slavery. He gives an honest portrayal of highs and lows... mostly lows... after being kidnapped and forced to live as a slave after spending the start of his life as a freeman. The son of a freed slave pulls no punches as he discusses the horrors of life as a slave. But he admits that there were some owners who were quite compassionate with their slaves.

The movie leaves out so much, such as how he was forced to be the proxy and whip his fellow slaves. The tales of how various slaves were killed when trying to escape. The third person narrative of the movie hides the first person experience of Solomon.

The language of the time makes the book a little difficult to follow at times, but eventually you can come around.

One of the more interesting aspects which is not touched on in the movie is the travel of Solomon's correspondence to his friends back in New York. For 2 years, has family didn't know why or where he'd gone, as they'd been away when he left and he expected to return before they did. When the first letter arrived, they only knew he'd been kidnapped but no idea where he was. Even 10 years later as another letter is sent, it's purely by chance that they were able to find the man who sent the letter on his behalf.

Solomon could have died a slave multiple times. His intelligence and resource kept him alive. It's no life for anyone but he figured out how to survive. For so many others, it was the only life they'd ever known.

6 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Penetrating!

Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2023

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Great biography providing insight to the hideous evil of slavery and ultimate redemption. Tragedy and triumph at its best! I highly recommend this book!

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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Akash Chinche

"Freedom" suddenly has a different meaning.

Reviewed in India on July 21, 2017

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Lucky us to be born in a free world. An evil, which was broadly accepted back in those days without guilt provokes an introspection of the like of it in today's world. God's creatures who can't speak for themselves.

Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 17, 2016

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Great book

Allie

Lovely Novel.

Reviewed in Canada on September 1, 2016

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This is a bit of a slow read, but after awhile I couldn't put it down!! For the discounted price that I purchased it for on my Kindle it was well worth it.

Laudiceia

Muito bom

Reviewed in Brazil on April 22, 2016

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Leitura agradável, história muito bonita, um escravo que sofreu demais, entre tantos, você não consegue parar de ler, vale a leitura!

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