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The Autobiographies #1-3
The Complete Autobiographies of Frederick Douglas:
Here in one omnibus edition are all three of Frederick Douglass' landmark autobiographies. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is one of the most influential autobiographies ever written. This classic did as much as or more than any other book to motivate the abolitionist to continue to fight for freedom in American. Frederick Douglass was born a slave, he escaped a brutal system and through sheer force of will educated himself and became an abolitionist, editor, orator, author, statesman, and reformer. This is one of the most unlikely and powerful success stories ever written. In Frederick Douglass' autobiography My Bondage and My Freedom we can see the power of literacy and belief. Douglass transforms himself from slave to an abolitionist, journalist, orator, and one of the most powerful voices to emerge from the American civil rights movement with little more than force of will. His breadth of his accomplishments gave hope to generations of people who came after him in their fight for civil rights. The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass was Douglass' third autobiography. In it he was able to go into greater detail about his life as a slave and his escape from slavery, as he and his family were no longer in any danger from the reception of his work. It is also the only of Douglass' autobiographies to discuss his life during and after the Civil War, including his encounters with American Presidents such as Lincoln, Grant, and Garfield
570 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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About the author
Frederick Douglass
1,041 books1,694 followersFrederick Douglass (né Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey) was born a slave in the state of Maryland in 1818. After his escape from slavery, Douglass became a renowned abolitionist, editor and feminist. Having escaped from slavery at age 20, he took the name Frederick Douglass for himself and became an advocate of abolition. Douglass traveled widely, and often perilously, to lecture against slavery.
His first of three autobiographies, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, was published in 1845. In 1847 he moved to Rochester, New York, and started working with fellow abolitionist Martin R. Delany to publish a weekly anti-slavery newspaper, North Star. Douglass was the only man to speak in favor of Elizabeth Cady Stanton's controversial plank of woman suffrage at the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848. As a signer of the Declaration of Sentiments, Douglass also promoted woman suffrage in his North Star. Douglass and Stanton remained lifelong friends.
In 1870 Douglass launched The New National Era out of Washington, D.C. He was nominated for vice-president by the Equal Rights Party to run with Victoria Woodhull as presidential candidate in 1872. He became U.S. marshal of the District of Columbia in 1877, and was later appointed minister resident and consul-general to Haiti. His District of Columbia home is a national historic site. D. 1895.
More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic...
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1...
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/exhi...
http://www.loc.gov/collection/frederi...
http://www.nps.gov/frdo/index.htm
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/exhibits...
His first of three autobiographies, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, was published in 1845. In 1847 he moved to Rochester, New York, and started working with fellow abolitionist Martin R. Delany to publish a weekly anti-slavery newspaper, North Star. Douglass was the only man to speak in favor of Elizabeth Cady Stanton's controversial plank of woman suffrage at the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848. As a signer of the Declaration of Sentiments, Douglass also promoted woman suffrage in his North Star. Douglass and Stanton remained lifelong friends.
In 1870 Douglass launched The New National Era out of Washington, D.C. He was nominated for vice-president by the Equal Rights Party to run with Victoria Woodhull as presidential candidate in 1872. He became U.S. marshal of the District of Columbia in 1877, and was later appointed minister resident and consul-general to Haiti. His District of Columbia home is a national historic site. D. 1895.
More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic...
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1...
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/exhi...
http://www.loc.gov/collection/frederi...
http://www.nps.gov/frdo/index.htm
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/exhibits...
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February 5, 2026
The Life Of A Free Man
Frederick Douglass (1818?-1895) was the greatest African American leader of the Nineteenth Century. He was born a slave on the Eastern Shore in Maryland and grew up on plantations on the Eastern Shore with several years in Baltimore. He was a physically powerful, highly intelligent, and spirited youth and developed quickly a hatred of the slave system. As a slave, he taught himself to read and write, and learned the art of public speaking from the church and from a book of orations popular at the time that feel into his hands. He escaped from slavery at the age of 20 and moved to New Bedford,Massachusetts. He became part of the Abolitionist Movement and achieved fame as a public speaker. He became a newspaper editor and writer. During the Civil War, he assisted in the recruitment of black troops. He met President Lincoln on several occasions and became a great admirer. In later years, Douglass was aligned with the conservative "stalwart" wing of the Republican party and continued to speak out for the rights of African-Americans, to oppose (somewhat belatedly) the end of Reconstruction, and to work for the life of the spirit and the mind.
Frederick Douglass wrote three autobiographies which are given in this volume. The first, shortest, and best was written in 1845, seven years after Douglass had escaped from slavery. It tells in graphic and unforgettable terms the story of Douglass' life as a slave, the growth of the spirit of freedom in himself. and the early part of his life as a free man in New Bedford.
The second autobiography was written in 1855. It repeats much of the earlier story and describes Douglass's visit to Great Britain. A highlight of this volume is the Appendix in which Douglass gives the reader excerpts from several of his speeches, including his perhaps most famous speech "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July."
Douglass wrote his third autobiography in 1888 and edited it substantially in 1893. It describes Douglass's relationship with Abraham Lincoln and John Brown. I also enjoyed the section of the book in which Douglass describes his trip to England, Italy, and Egypt near the end of his life. It is highly intelligent, perceptive and reflective travel writing. There are also excerpts in this final autobiography from Douglass's speeches and letters.
The most striking incident in all three volumes is Douglass's story of how he stood up for himself and became in his own eyes a man of dignity and courage. Douglass had been sent for a year to live with a small farmer named Covey who had a reputation for breaking the sprit of strong-willed slaves. Covey whipped Douglass unmercifully for the first six months. Then, after a whipping which left Douglass scared and weak for several days (he ran back to his old master who ordered him back to Covey) Douglass fought back. Covey attempted to whip Douglass and Douglass resisted. The two men fought hand-to-hand for hours. Douglass could not assume the offensive in the fight (it was enough to resist at all) but more than held his ground and had the better of it. Covey at last walked off and never whipped Douglass again. This incident is strikingly told in each autobiography and marks the moment when Douglass showed he could stand up for himself and not have the spirit of a slave. It is inspiring and it grounded his actions for the rest of his life.
There is much in these books that transcends the resistance against American slavery, utterly important as that is. We have, as I have tried to explain, in this book the voice of personal freedom and self-determination which is something every person must learn and understand for him or herself in deciding how to live. In addition, I get the impression that as Douglass aged he became increasingly committed to the life of the mind and the spirit. This is apparent from his writing and from his interest in travel, in European high culture, art, literature, and music. Douglass learned the meaning for freedom. He tried to devote himself to matters of the spirit in addition to his lifelong quest to improve the lot of the former slave. I think there is still a great deal to be learned here.
Douglass had much to say about the nature of American freedom and democracy. He loved and had faith in them, in spite of the horrible stain of slavery. Here is a wonderful observation from the third autobiography in which Douglass' describes his activities during the Presidential campaign of 1888.
"I left the discussion of the tariff to my young friend Morris, while I spoke for justice and humanity....I took it to be the vital and animating principle of the Republican party. I found the people more courageous than their party leaders. What the leaders were afraid to teach, the people were brave enough and glad enough to learn. I held that the soul of the nation was in this question, and that the gain of all the gold in the world would not compensate for the loss of the nation's soul. National honor is the soul of the nation, and when this is lost all is lost. ... As with an individual, so too with a nation, there is a time when it may properly be asked "What doth it profit to gain the whole world and thereby lose one's soul?"
There is a spirit and a wisdom in Douglass that still has much to teach.
As a man of the Nineteenth Century, Douglass tells us little in his autobiographies of his personal life. Upon his escape from slavery, Douglass married a free, uneducated black woman. Upon her death, Douglass married a white woman, which (as we see briefly in the book) caused shock among American whites and blacks alike. We also see little of Douglass' relationship to his children. The reader who would like to learn more about Douglass' personal life needs to read a biography, such as William McFeeley's "Frederick Douglass" (1991)
Douglass' autobiographies are precious work of American literature and a testimony to the free human spirit.
Robin Friedman
Frederick Douglass (1818?-1895) was the greatest African American leader of the Nineteenth Century. He was born a slave on the Eastern Shore in Maryland and grew up on plantations on the Eastern Shore with several years in Baltimore. He was a physically powerful, highly intelligent, and spirited youth and developed quickly a hatred of the slave system. As a slave, he taught himself to read and write, and learned the art of public speaking from the church and from a book of orations popular at the time that feel into his hands. He escaped from slavery at the age of 20 and moved to New Bedford,Massachusetts. He became part of the Abolitionist Movement and achieved fame as a public speaker. He became a newspaper editor and writer. During the Civil War, he assisted in the recruitment of black troops. He met President Lincoln on several occasions and became a great admirer. In later years, Douglass was aligned with the conservative "stalwart" wing of the Republican party and continued to speak out for the rights of African-Americans, to oppose (somewhat belatedly) the end of Reconstruction, and to work for the life of the spirit and the mind.
Frederick Douglass wrote three autobiographies which are given in this volume. The first, shortest, and best was written in 1845, seven years after Douglass had escaped from slavery. It tells in graphic and unforgettable terms the story of Douglass' life as a slave, the growth of the spirit of freedom in himself. and the early part of his life as a free man in New Bedford.
The second autobiography was written in 1855. It repeats much of the earlier story and describes Douglass's visit to Great Britain. A highlight of this volume is the Appendix in which Douglass gives the reader excerpts from several of his speeches, including his perhaps most famous speech "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July."
Douglass wrote his third autobiography in 1888 and edited it substantially in 1893. It describes Douglass's relationship with Abraham Lincoln and John Brown. I also enjoyed the section of the book in which Douglass describes his trip to England, Italy, and Egypt near the end of his life. It is highly intelligent, perceptive and reflective travel writing. There are also excerpts in this final autobiography from Douglass's speeches and letters.
The most striking incident in all three volumes is Douglass's story of how he stood up for himself and became in his own eyes a man of dignity and courage. Douglass had been sent for a year to live with a small farmer named Covey who had a reputation for breaking the sprit of strong-willed slaves. Covey whipped Douglass unmercifully for the first six months. Then, after a whipping which left Douglass scared and weak for several days (he ran back to his old master who ordered him back to Covey) Douglass fought back. Covey attempted to whip Douglass and Douglass resisted. The two men fought hand-to-hand for hours. Douglass could not assume the offensive in the fight (it was enough to resist at all) but more than held his ground and had the better of it. Covey at last walked off and never whipped Douglass again. This incident is strikingly told in each autobiography and marks the moment when Douglass showed he could stand up for himself and not have the spirit of a slave. It is inspiring and it grounded his actions for the rest of his life.
There is much in these books that transcends the resistance against American slavery, utterly important as that is. We have, as I have tried to explain, in this book the voice of personal freedom and self-determination which is something every person must learn and understand for him or herself in deciding how to live. In addition, I get the impression that as Douglass aged he became increasingly committed to the life of the mind and the spirit. This is apparent from his writing and from his interest in travel, in European high culture, art, literature, and music. Douglass learned the meaning for freedom. He tried to devote himself to matters of the spirit in addition to his lifelong quest to improve the lot of the former slave. I think there is still a great deal to be learned here.
Douglass had much to say about the nature of American freedom and democracy. He loved and had faith in them, in spite of the horrible stain of slavery. Here is a wonderful observation from the third autobiography in which Douglass' describes his activities during the Presidential campaign of 1888.
"I left the discussion of the tariff to my young friend Morris, while I spoke for justice and humanity....I took it to be the vital and animating principle of the Republican party. I found the people more courageous than their party leaders. What the leaders were afraid to teach, the people were brave enough and glad enough to learn. I held that the soul of the nation was in this question, and that the gain of all the gold in the world would not compensate for the loss of the nation's soul. National honor is the soul of the nation, and when this is lost all is lost. ... As with an individual, so too with a nation, there is a time when it may properly be asked "What doth it profit to gain the whole world and thereby lose one's soul?"
There is a spirit and a wisdom in Douglass that still has much to teach.
As a man of the Nineteenth Century, Douglass tells us little in his autobiographies of his personal life. Upon his escape from slavery, Douglass married a free, uneducated black woman. Upon her death, Douglass married a white woman, which (as we see briefly in the book) caused shock among American whites and blacks alike. We also see little of Douglass' relationship to his children. The reader who would like to learn more about Douglass' personal life needs to read a biography, such as William McFeeley's "Frederick Douglass" (1991)
Douglass' autobiographies are precious work of American literature and a testimony to the free human spirit.
Robin Friedman
September 10, 2012
Fredrick Douglas is one of my heroes. This book was a cornerstone in prison. It taught us how to insist on freedom, even when we didn't have it. Reading this book changed my relationship with the guards entirely. I can't think of a single piece of writing that has effected my life more.
January 17, 2008
The Autobiography slew me. So important and expressed so rendingly ...what really strikes one is the complete absence of self-pity and the almost terrifying objectivity he is able to maintain as he describes the horrible details of his life, the casually procrustean culture of slavery America...the very entity which casually excised his family from him, forever denying him maternal and paternal love, fraternal love, the gift of owning one's own soul...so much was denied him that it would take days or weeks to list...by a culture which repeatedly attempted to render him subhuman on the rare occasions it did not assume he was. His mind is permanently darkened but his soul keeps producing more light...how?...I would list this among the most important books ever produced by an American author...no wonder Lincoln made him a confidante and respected him so...
May 27, 2021
The Complete Autobiographies of Fredrick Douglass is a poignant and powerful read. Learning about Douglass’ upbringing in slavery is grueling, especially given the brutal treatment he endured at parts of his life, yet his accomplishments despite the shackles of his youth are inspiring. Douglass’ writings are masterful, capturing a dark time in American history, and Douglass provides fascinating insight into Southern slavery, the abolition movement, and the continued struggles of African Americans even after slavery was abolished.
That said, while this book merits a 5-star rating, I can’t recommend this book. The reason why I can’t recommend this book is because reading all three of Douglass’ autobiographies is unnecessary and repetitive. If you desire to read a shorter account of Douglass’ life in slavery, I would recommend just reading his earliest autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. If you want a more lengthy and detailed description of his life in slavery and his life after, then I would recommend his second autobiography, My Bondage and My Freedom. If you are looking for a more wholistic account of his life that includes his escape from slavery (which is omitted from the previous works, much to my chagrin), his perspective on the Civil War and interactions with Lincoln, then his last (and the lengthiest) autobiography, Life and Times of Fredrick Douglass, is for you.
The issue with reading all three autobiographies is that they are unfortunately highly repetitive of each other, at least in terms of Douglass’ life as a slave. Reading the works in publication order at least allows later parts of Douglass’ life to be revealed incrementally. My solution to this was to put the book down for several months at a time before coming back and beginning the next autobiography, allowing his early narrative to be a little fresher that way.
This book was a struggle for me to read. I’m not sure why, but it’s been a while since I’ve tackled a book that was this difficult to get through (I struggled similarly with The Odyssey). Perhaps my struggle was due to the brutal and ugly nature of Douglass’ narrative as a slave, as I don’t know if there is much to enjoy in reading about his experience. It is eye opening, and Douglass does a good job capturing the atrocity of the institution. Still, even the parts after his escape from slavery I found myself only able to read a chapter or two at a time.
This book, while fascinating and extremely well written, was a chore for me to read. I enjoyed reading the third autobiography the most, I think, as finally reading how he did escape slavery and his interactions with Lincoln during the Civil War was a highlight for me. I also thought his discussion of the hypocrisy in the Christian faith of the slave owners was interesting. One thing that did surprise me about his autobiographies is that while they greatly detail his upbringing and accomplishments in life, they strangely omit his personal life. We learn very little of his spouse and children, outside of an occasional scene or to. Maybe this is typical of autobiographies of this period, or maybe because his life story is being told with a certain goal in mind, but this hole in his life was strangely noticeable to me.
Overall, Fredrick Douglass is a brilliant writer as he was orator, and his life story is one I would recommend everyone read. That said, don’t bother with this complete edition of all of his autobiographies unless you seriously are ready to undergo that journey. Instead, pick up one of his individual autobiographies depending on what you are looking to learn about his life.
That said, while this book merits a 5-star rating, I can’t recommend this book. The reason why I can’t recommend this book is because reading all three of Douglass’ autobiographies is unnecessary and repetitive. If you desire to read a shorter account of Douglass’ life in slavery, I would recommend just reading his earliest autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. If you want a more lengthy and detailed description of his life in slavery and his life after, then I would recommend his second autobiography, My Bondage and My Freedom. If you are looking for a more wholistic account of his life that includes his escape from slavery (which is omitted from the previous works, much to my chagrin), his perspective on the Civil War and interactions with Lincoln, then his last (and the lengthiest) autobiography, Life and Times of Fredrick Douglass, is for you.
The issue with reading all three autobiographies is that they are unfortunately highly repetitive of each other, at least in terms of Douglass’ life as a slave. Reading the works in publication order at least allows later parts of Douglass’ life to be revealed incrementally. My solution to this was to put the book down for several months at a time before coming back and beginning the next autobiography, allowing his early narrative to be a little fresher that way.
This book was a struggle for me to read. I’m not sure why, but it’s been a while since I’ve tackled a book that was this difficult to get through (I struggled similarly with The Odyssey). Perhaps my struggle was due to the brutal and ugly nature of Douglass’ narrative as a slave, as I don’t know if there is much to enjoy in reading about his experience. It is eye opening, and Douglass does a good job capturing the atrocity of the institution. Still, even the parts after his escape from slavery I found myself only able to read a chapter or two at a time.
This book, while fascinating and extremely well written, was a chore for me to read. I enjoyed reading the third autobiography the most, I think, as finally reading how he did escape slavery and his interactions with Lincoln during the Civil War was a highlight for me. I also thought his discussion of the hypocrisy in the Christian faith of the slave owners was interesting. One thing that did surprise me about his autobiographies is that while they greatly detail his upbringing and accomplishments in life, they strangely omit his personal life. We learn very little of his spouse and children, outside of an occasional scene or to. Maybe this is typical of autobiographies of this period, or maybe because his life story is being told with a certain goal in mind, but this hole in his life was strangely noticeable to me.
Overall, Fredrick Douglass is a brilliant writer as he was orator, and his life story is one I would recommend everyone read. That said, don’t bother with this complete edition of all of his autobiographies unless you seriously are ready to undergo that journey. Instead, pick up one of his individual autobiographies depending on what you are looking to learn about his life.
May 21, 2021
What I have said respecting and against religion, I mean strictly to apply to the slaveholding religion of this land, and with no possible reference to Christianity proper; for, between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible distance -- so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked. To be the friend of the one, is of necessity to be the enemy of the other. I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ: I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land. Indeed, I can see no reason, but the most deceitful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity. I look upon it as the climax of all misnomers, the boldest of all frauds, and the grossest of all libels. Never was there a clearer case of "stealing the livery of the court of heaven to serve the devil in." I am filled with unutterable loathing when I contemplate the religious pomp and show, together with the horrible inconsistencies, which every where surround me. We have men-stealers for ministers, women-whippers for missionaries, and cradle-plunderers for church members. The man who wields the blood-clotted cowskin during the week fills the pulpit on Sunday, and claims to be a minister of the meek and lowly Jesus. The man who robs me of my earnings at the end of each week meets me as a class-leader on Sunday morning, to show me the way of life, and the path of salvation. He who sells my sister, for purposes of prostitution, stands forth as the pious advocate of purity. He who proclaims it a religious duty to read the Bible denies me the right of learning to read the name of the God who made me. He who is the religious advocate of marriage robs whole millions of its sacred influence, and leaves them to the ravages of wholesale pollution. the warm defender of the sacredness of the family relation is the same that scatters whole families, --sundering husbands and wives, parents and children, sisters and brothers, --leaving the hut vacant, and the hearth desolate. We see the thief preaching against theft, and the adulterer against adultery. We have men sold to build churches, women sold to support the gospel, and babes sold to purchase Bibles for the poor heathen! all for the glory of God and the good of souls! The slave auctioneer's bell and the church-going bell chime in with each other, and the bitter cries of the heart-broken slave are drowned in the religious shouts of his pious master. Revivals of religion and revivals in the slave-trade go hand in hand together. The slave prison and the church stand near each other. The clanking of fetters and the rattling of chains in the prison, and the pious psalm and solemn prayer in the church, may be heard at the same time. The dealers in the bodies and souls of men erect their stand in the presence of the pulpit, and they mutually help each other. The dealer gives his blood-stained gold to support the pulpit, and the pulpit, in return, covers his infernal business with the garb of Christianity. Here we have religion and robbery the allies of each other -- devils dressed in angels' robes, and hell presenting the semblance of paradise.
April 24, 2021
The value of Frederick Douglass' collected autobiographies cannot be overstated. As a vivid representation of the condition of the enslaved in the United States over a period starting long before the Civil War and extending some 15 years after the abolition of slavery, Douglass' recollections are, perhaps, unique, and certainly riveting. Were his autobiographies required reading for high school students, they would go a long way toward debunking the myth, persistent to this day among racists and white supremacists, that the black race, as a whole, is somehow intellectually inferior to that race which enslaved them. The very fact of enslavement would argue to contrary, but Douglass here gives undeniable proof, the rejection of which would be tantamount to willful ignorance and stubborn obtusion. If we don't grant that Douglass had a mind which ranks among the most brilliant in the history of our nation, how could we possibly account for the facts of his life? Rising from abject, chattel slavery, he taught himself to read and write, and while this is extraordinary in and of itself, his motivations for doing so are equally extraordinary. Douglass, at a surprisingly early age, recognized that literacy was the key to liberation, that, to paraphrase a popular saying, if he could free his mind, his ass would follow. And so it did. He is careful to make this point clear: The more beset by physical hardships a slave was, the less "bandwidth" they had to contemplate their own state and compare it to a hypothetical state of freedom. When survival from day to day, or even hour to hour, was one's primary concern, it left little space to contemplate one's human rights. Douglass recognized that this was a central motivating factor in the evolution of the slave-driving class, whose primary brief was the creation and administration of violence and cruelty. In short, the more traumatized a slave was, the less likely they were to contemplate rebellion or escape, as paradoxical as that may seem.
Douglass' good fortune was, at a relatively early age, to be sent from the cruelty of the plantation to the relative ease of the city of Baltimore, where he lived with a couple who were considerably more kindly than the slave holders he had been raised among. This alleviated from him the fundamental burdens of survival, as he now enjoyed sufficient food, shelter, and clothing. This state of affairs freed his mind to contemplate more philosophical questions: Why was he a slave when others were free? Why were the enslavers so deeply opposed to the idea of the enslaved becoming literate? How could those who believed in the God of the Bible seemingly defy its fundamental precepts, not simply by denying the humanity of an entire race of human beings, but actually resorting to their supposedly holy scriptures to justify such a state?
As a result of the vagaries of life -- vagaries almost always exacerbated with regard to the enslaved -- Douglass was, for a time, sent back to plantation life and, although his tenure there was temporary, and despite the fact that he was able to return, eventually, to his Baltimore life, he was subjected to the full and untrammeled viciousness of the slave-driver and the slave-breaker. Here we meet with even further proof that Douglass possessed an innate and superior intelligence. When he was beaten so badly that his life was endangered, he resolved that he would never again allow himself to be assaulted without defending himself and giving at least as good as he received. This was not merely inspired out of desperation, but by the understanding that it is better, if one must die, to do so on one's feet, not on one's knees. As Douglass is quick to point out, the slaves most likely to be beaten were those least likely to fight back, so by adopting the stance he did he was certainly able to avoid all manner of great bodily harm.
These are but a few examples of Douglass' self-evidently superior intellect, and to enumerate every such point in Douglass' narrative would be to reprint his writings in toto. At every point in his life, he exhibited an intellect which would put many a white person (certainly including the current reviewer) to shame. His plan for escaping from slavery; his rise within the abolitionist movement in New England; his fruitful travels overseas; his efforts as a journalist and publisher; his connection to John Brown, as well as his counsel to Lincoln and other occupants of the White House; his appointment to various public offices; his facility in accumulating substantial wealth, as much in the interest of aiding the cause of his own oppressed people as for personal gain; even those few occasions when his opinions on matters of policy might seem questionable to a more modern perspective; all of these, and many more instances besides, reveal a mind of great clarity, pure reason, and enormous, undeniable power.
As I said above, these books should be required reading in our schools. Although it would not eradicate racism, it would surely contribute to its eventual eradication.
A few words, now, about this particular edition. It should be noted, first, that Douglass wrote three autobiographies of increasing length. The first ("Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave") was published in 1845 in response to those who, after Douglass had escaped to New England, doubted, based on his eloquence and depth of intellect, that he had ever actually been enslaved. Because he wrote this account, he subsequently spent time overseas in order to evade any possible capture by those who made their living by kidnapping escaped slaves. It was, in fact, as a result of this trip that Douglass' friends in England raised enough money to purchase his freedom from his former enslaver.
The second autobiography, "My Bondage and My Freedom," published in 1855, is nearly three times the length of the first volume, and adds a great deal to his narrative, apart from covering another whole decade of his life. It is, in essence, a vastly expanded edition of his first autobiography.
Due to the nature of the system of enslavement, in both of his first two autobiographies, Douglass was compelled to omit important details, since they might, on the one hand, place his brethren and allies in danger and, on the other, provide useful intelligence to the enslavers. These omissions are addressed in his third, and longest, autobiography, "Life and Times of Frederick Douglass," which, published in 1881, covers everything the in first two volumes, as well as the period leading up to and following the Civil War, including many details of his life during the period of Reconstruction. It also reveals some of the mysteries raised in the first two volumes (for example, the details of his escape to New York and, from there, to New Bedford).
Each subsequent volume subsumes most of the contents -- sometimes verbatim -- of the previous volume. And while there are certainly differences between them which an astute and meticulous reader will find interesting and valuable, those who want to limit their reading to a single volume should read the third of his autobiographies. This last volume also manages to correct or clarify a few points which were unclear in the first two volumes.
Finally, a word about the publisher of the edition I read, Wilder Publications, LLC. As a reader, I was put off by a number of problems with this edition. First, the text layout is very cramped and difficult to read. Second, in several instances entire blocks of text were omitted (or scrambled), and while the overall gist of the text could still be grasped, such errors are really inexcusable when dealing with a text which borders on the sacred. Furthermore, the first two volumes are strewn with indications that Douglass' original text contained errors (i.e.: "[sic]"). Thus, the publishers, while quick to point out Douglass' errors -- instead of taking the liberty of correcting them and adding an editorial note to that effect at the beginning of this edition -- riddled the book with errors of their own. At the risk of putting too fine a point on the matter, this comes off as micro-aggressive, especially given that the author's name on the spine of the book and at the top of every odd-numbered page is spelled incorrectly as "Frederick Douglas." On the one hand, perhaps the publishers should not have been so eager to sic their [sic] on the author; on the other hand, were I to edit a second edition of this book, I would feel compelled to add more than 250 "[sic]" notations of my own to correct what is, truly, a shameful error. In short, read the books, but buy them elsewhere!
Douglass' good fortune was, at a relatively early age, to be sent from the cruelty of the plantation to the relative ease of the city of Baltimore, where he lived with a couple who were considerably more kindly than the slave holders he had been raised among. This alleviated from him the fundamental burdens of survival, as he now enjoyed sufficient food, shelter, and clothing. This state of affairs freed his mind to contemplate more philosophical questions: Why was he a slave when others were free? Why were the enslavers so deeply opposed to the idea of the enslaved becoming literate? How could those who believed in the God of the Bible seemingly defy its fundamental precepts, not simply by denying the humanity of an entire race of human beings, but actually resorting to their supposedly holy scriptures to justify such a state?
As a result of the vagaries of life -- vagaries almost always exacerbated with regard to the enslaved -- Douglass was, for a time, sent back to plantation life and, although his tenure there was temporary, and despite the fact that he was able to return, eventually, to his Baltimore life, he was subjected to the full and untrammeled viciousness of the slave-driver and the slave-breaker. Here we meet with even further proof that Douglass possessed an innate and superior intelligence. When he was beaten so badly that his life was endangered, he resolved that he would never again allow himself to be assaulted without defending himself and giving at least as good as he received. This was not merely inspired out of desperation, but by the understanding that it is better, if one must die, to do so on one's feet, not on one's knees. As Douglass is quick to point out, the slaves most likely to be beaten were those least likely to fight back, so by adopting the stance he did he was certainly able to avoid all manner of great bodily harm.
These are but a few examples of Douglass' self-evidently superior intellect, and to enumerate every such point in Douglass' narrative would be to reprint his writings in toto. At every point in his life, he exhibited an intellect which would put many a white person (certainly including the current reviewer) to shame. His plan for escaping from slavery; his rise within the abolitionist movement in New England; his fruitful travels overseas; his efforts as a journalist and publisher; his connection to John Brown, as well as his counsel to Lincoln and other occupants of the White House; his appointment to various public offices; his facility in accumulating substantial wealth, as much in the interest of aiding the cause of his own oppressed people as for personal gain; even those few occasions when his opinions on matters of policy might seem questionable to a more modern perspective; all of these, and many more instances besides, reveal a mind of great clarity, pure reason, and enormous, undeniable power.
As I said above, these books should be required reading in our schools. Although it would not eradicate racism, it would surely contribute to its eventual eradication.
A few words, now, about this particular edition. It should be noted, first, that Douglass wrote three autobiographies of increasing length. The first ("Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave") was published in 1845 in response to those who, after Douglass had escaped to New England, doubted, based on his eloquence and depth of intellect, that he had ever actually been enslaved. Because he wrote this account, he subsequently spent time overseas in order to evade any possible capture by those who made their living by kidnapping escaped slaves. It was, in fact, as a result of this trip that Douglass' friends in England raised enough money to purchase his freedom from his former enslaver.
The second autobiography, "My Bondage and My Freedom," published in 1855, is nearly three times the length of the first volume, and adds a great deal to his narrative, apart from covering another whole decade of his life. It is, in essence, a vastly expanded edition of his first autobiography.
Due to the nature of the system of enslavement, in both of his first two autobiographies, Douglass was compelled to omit important details, since they might, on the one hand, place his brethren and allies in danger and, on the other, provide useful intelligence to the enslavers. These omissions are addressed in his third, and longest, autobiography, "Life and Times of Frederick Douglass," which, published in 1881, covers everything the in first two volumes, as well as the period leading up to and following the Civil War, including many details of his life during the period of Reconstruction. It also reveals some of the mysteries raised in the first two volumes (for example, the details of his escape to New York and, from there, to New Bedford).
Each subsequent volume subsumes most of the contents -- sometimes verbatim -- of the previous volume. And while there are certainly differences between them which an astute and meticulous reader will find interesting and valuable, those who want to limit their reading to a single volume should read the third of his autobiographies. This last volume also manages to correct or clarify a few points which were unclear in the first two volumes.
Finally, a word about the publisher of the edition I read, Wilder Publications, LLC. As a reader, I was put off by a number of problems with this edition. First, the text layout is very cramped and difficult to read. Second, in several instances entire blocks of text were omitted (or scrambled), and while the overall gist of the text could still be grasped, such errors are really inexcusable when dealing with a text which borders on the sacred. Furthermore, the first two volumes are strewn with indications that Douglass' original text contained errors (i.e.: "[sic]"). Thus, the publishers, while quick to point out Douglass' errors -- instead of taking the liberty of correcting them and adding an editorial note to that effect at the beginning of this edition -- riddled the book with errors of their own. At the risk of putting too fine a point on the matter, this comes off as micro-aggressive, especially given that the author's name on the spine of the book and at the top of every odd-numbered page is spelled incorrectly as "Frederick Douglas." On the one hand, perhaps the publishers should not have been so eager to sic their [sic] on the author; on the other hand, were I to edit a second edition of this book, I would feel compelled to add more than 250 "[sic]" notations of my own to correct what is, truly, a shameful error. In short, read the books, but buy them elsewhere!
December 19, 2010
I thought this narrative was brilliant. It evoked my sense of justice for the people who are racially discriminated. Fredrick Douglass is a great writer. Through using literary elements such as imagery, metaphor and many more, Douglass illustrates the reader the pain and the discrimination that the slaves had to suffer through. I will recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learninga about slavery.
March 9, 2023
Frederick’s writing style transcends time, all generations should read this book.
He spares no details into the horrors of his life giving you a vivid sense of what it was like to live as a slave and black man during the 1800s.
He writes extensively about his activism and the many places and people that he met, yet always remains humble.
The things he accomplished are incredible, if you are interested in the history of the US or slavery at all give this one a read!
He spares no details into the horrors of his life giving you a vivid sense of what it was like to live as a slave and black man during the 1800s.
He writes extensively about his activism and the many places and people that he met, yet always remains humble.
The things he accomplished are incredible, if you are interested in the history of the US or slavery at all give this one a read!
July 3, 2021
Needs to be read by everyone
Although written almost 200 hundred years ago, Frederick Douglass' bio still manages to touch us deeply. His works are as important today as they were then. Sadly, I elieve they were better received then. His take on American Christianity's dark side still applies today, as do so many of the attitudes towards black. Will we never learn?
Although written almost 200 hundred years ago, Frederick Douglass' bio still manages to touch us deeply. His works are as important today as they were then. Sadly, I elieve they were better received then. His take on American Christianity's dark side still applies today, as do so many of the attitudes towards black. Will we never learn?
December 31, 2021
The Complete Autobiographies of Frederic Douglas, Hardback, An African American Heritage Book may be the single most important book I have ever read. Whatever your thoughts and opinions on contemporary race related issues, Critical Race Theory or Black Lives Matter, even Defunding Police are by right, yours to have. It may just be that whatever your opinion, it is not fully informed until you have read, Frederick Douglas. It is rare to read something that is not merely a good read, Douglas writes well, but is a vital, necessary book.
The full contents of this handsomely mounted, if small print edition includes at least three versions of Fredrick Douglas’s childhood and youth as a slave in the Maryland area. The location of his enslavement is important for several reasons. In Maryland the hand of slavery could be slightly lighter because slave holders were slightly more aware that the business of owning humans was no longer a universal norm. When Douglas makes his escape, being in Maryland meant that his route to a free state would be that much shorter. Throughout his time as property, he was very aware that the wrong step might mean he could be sold to owners in the deep south where survival and escape would be that much harder.
The different versions of this part of the volume reflect the risks he would take in revealing anything. Initially he was subject to being stolen back into slavery. Allowing for that saying too much could place at risk brother slaves who might be using the same routes, as well as expose the people who facilitated freedom to the revenge of the particularly low life people who made a living of snatching humans back into slavery.
As he details his life in several forms of enslavement he dispatches such still typical blather about happy slaves, ( happy for appearances only, complaining yields beatings)or kind slave owners (some did exist, but could not be relied upon and are only kind in relative terms) and the particular way that hard owners, by making life harder, made the relative risk of escape more reasonable.
Douglas became a very religious man but was aware, even stung by the frequency that the more religious a slave owner made themselves appear among their acknowledged brethren, the more hard the lives of their human property.
A particularly deep insight was that slaves, having no legal rights among humans, therefore have no legal restraints. What is theft for a free person, is no limit to a person who has no freedom. Crime is a matter of law, and law exempted slaves, thereby exempted them from responsibility. If a slave is no more than property, a slave can no more be guilty of a crime that a table or a cow.
Beyond the journal of his slave years, and just as important was the lessons he learned, too often at hazard to his life, about being a free black man in slave free states and post Civil War America. For example, even as he took his first steps as a free man in New York he would fast come to learn that too many, too friendly fellow blacks were ready to sell him back into slavery. Finding work in shipyards, where he had several necessary skills, he would be shut out by fellow white workers would not accept a black employee as an equal.
It is well documented that many states allowed hotel owners, rail road companies and other vendors of common public services to ignore the black population. On railroads, and at home, Douglas could be vulnerable to beatings. When on the road to make his various speeches, it was safer to travel with a white man, as if he could not be vouchsafed innocent passage except by the presence of a white male. Even so neither could never be certain of public accommodations, food service, or freedom from an interfering officer of the law.
Across the later essays and speeches, we can read of his disillusionment with post Civil War America. He was certain that a black man who could vote was a man who could be respected. What happened instead was a plethora of laws passed by states to make it hard, if not impossible for Black Americans to cast the votes as was the expectation from the amended US Constitutions.
In other words, much of what Douglas experienced, answers so many of the argument attempted still. We still read allegedly intelligent people argue that slavery was not that bad, or that owners were good Christians, and that all of that was then. Too much of the reporting of Frederick Douglas, writing in the end of the 1800’s can be read again in the media and the experiences of Black Americans in the early 2100’s. For a fact, things have gotten better. Is better good enough?
In all things, Frederick argues as a reasonable and eloquent speaker. He is not just a first-person witness to all he describes. His appeal is always to the higher nature within humans. That he is and rightfully so a positive inspiration is a matter of the reader’s response. What his example demands, is that we need to be educated enough to respond, agree or disagree, with reason.
The full contents of this handsomely mounted, if small print edition includes at least three versions of Fredrick Douglas’s childhood and youth as a slave in the Maryland area. The location of his enslavement is important for several reasons. In Maryland the hand of slavery could be slightly lighter because slave holders were slightly more aware that the business of owning humans was no longer a universal norm. When Douglas makes his escape, being in Maryland meant that his route to a free state would be that much shorter. Throughout his time as property, he was very aware that the wrong step might mean he could be sold to owners in the deep south where survival and escape would be that much harder.
The different versions of this part of the volume reflect the risks he would take in revealing anything. Initially he was subject to being stolen back into slavery. Allowing for that saying too much could place at risk brother slaves who might be using the same routes, as well as expose the people who facilitated freedom to the revenge of the particularly low life people who made a living of snatching humans back into slavery.
As he details his life in several forms of enslavement he dispatches such still typical blather about happy slaves, ( happy for appearances only, complaining yields beatings)or kind slave owners (some did exist, but could not be relied upon and are only kind in relative terms) and the particular way that hard owners, by making life harder, made the relative risk of escape more reasonable.
Douglas became a very religious man but was aware, even stung by the frequency that the more religious a slave owner made themselves appear among their acknowledged brethren, the more hard the lives of their human property.
A particularly deep insight was that slaves, having no legal rights among humans, therefore have no legal restraints. What is theft for a free person, is no limit to a person who has no freedom. Crime is a matter of law, and law exempted slaves, thereby exempted them from responsibility. If a slave is no more than property, a slave can no more be guilty of a crime that a table or a cow.
Beyond the journal of his slave years, and just as important was the lessons he learned, too often at hazard to his life, about being a free black man in slave free states and post Civil War America. For example, even as he took his first steps as a free man in New York he would fast come to learn that too many, too friendly fellow blacks were ready to sell him back into slavery. Finding work in shipyards, where he had several necessary skills, he would be shut out by fellow white workers would not accept a black employee as an equal.
It is well documented that many states allowed hotel owners, rail road companies and other vendors of common public services to ignore the black population. On railroads, and at home, Douglas could be vulnerable to beatings. When on the road to make his various speeches, it was safer to travel with a white man, as if he could not be vouchsafed innocent passage except by the presence of a white male. Even so neither could never be certain of public accommodations, food service, or freedom from an interfering officer of the law.
Across the later essays and speeches, we can read of his disillusionment with post Civil War America. He was certain that a black man who could vote was a man who could be respected. What happened instead was a plethora of laws passed by states to make it hard, if not impossible for Black Americans to cast the votes as was the expectation from the amended US Constitutions.
In other words, much of what Douglas experienced, answers so many of the argument attempted still. We still read allegedly intelligent people argue that slavery was not that bad, or that owners were good Christians, and that all of that was then. Too much of the reporting of Frederick Douglas, writing in the end of the 1800’s can be read again in the media and the experiences of Black Americans in the early 2100’s. For a fact, things have gotten better. Is better good enough?
In all things, Frederick argues as a reasonable and eloquent speaker. He is not just a first-person witness to all he describes. His appeal is always to the higher nature within humans. That he is and rightfully so a positive inspiration is a matter of the reader’s response. What his example demands, is that we need to be educated enough to respond, agree or disagree, with reason.
January 9, 2022
The first part of the book is about his upbringing during slavery. Prior to his escape, he attempted to run away many times which resulted in severe punishments. In the book, he places the reader in the psychological condition of slavery and the brutality of white people towards the black folks. In part one, around chapter twelve, he talks about the story of his escape. It was common at that time for white people to encourage slaves to escape only to go after them to send them back to slavery to make a profit. Sometimes the wealthier slave owners would go around the country and ask the slaves if they were content with their life just to find out who is complaining about their masters.
There is an instance in the book where Frederick Douglass was on the verge of being captured. He describes for the reader (assuming white readers) that as a fugitive slave when they were returned to slavery it would make the conditions worse not only for the person who was attempting to scape but also for the rest of the black folks. Similar to military punishment in concentration camps, the white masters would make the conditions harsher for everyone rather than just the individual escaping. That would result in harsher treatments not only by the masters but also by all other folks on the plantation.
The second half of the “Life and Times” which is the bulk of the autobiography, focuses on his political activism and socio-political conditions of his time, not just in the United States but also in other countries where he had visited.
He often goes in-depth to give details about his meetings with people such as John Brown, Abraham Lincoln, William Lloyd Garrison, and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Although the majority of his writings are focused on the horrors of slavery and brutality of white folks in the South, there are few instances in which we hear about racism in the North. He mentions that it was common in the North for white folks to read his newspaper and automatically assume that he’s white or there is a white person behind his success. The bloody draft riots of July 1863 is another historical example of racist brutality in the North, where for three days in New York white mob killed black people for no reason other than them being black.
One of my favorites parts of the book is the chapter on John Brown. He talks about some other radicals such as Samuel R. Ward and the “Free Soil Party”. Douglass was impressed by Ward’s brilliance in speech. He also admired the bravery of John Brown and his men among which there have been many black folks. (2) On page 755, he talks about Brown creating a constitution for his men to avoid anarchy, and he also hid information from them for the sake of security of his missions. Another great account of John Brown’s militancy was given by W.E.B. Du Bois in a book with the same title published in 1909. Douglass also criticizes the bible scholars of the south, many of whom tried to justify slavery using anecdotes from the bible.
In chapter 9, he talks about the newly arrived immigrants that their hunger and light skin prioritizes them against the interests of the black people. In the same chapter, Douglass describes the ”nameless and shapeless ‘party’ of slavery”. An invisible party that white people from different geographies and socio-political status are believing in.
Later towards the end of the book, he elucidates the importance of “slave narrative” for the struggle to freedom. Douglass’s mission was to tell the story of black folks. And he mentions that philosophy and theology have come to aid the master’s story. Reading Douglass, it might appear that he’s simply praising Lincoln (especially in the appendix), however, with further excavation we can see that his criticism of whiteness is been planted in his writings with an extremely subtle tone.
Read the full review at:
insideanairport
***
There is an instance in the book where Frederick Douglass was on the verge of being captured. He describes for the reader (assuming white readers) that as a fugitive slave when they were returned to slavery it would make the conditions worse not only for the person who was attempting to scape but also for the rest of the black folks. Similar to military punishment in concentration camps, the white masters would make the conditions harsher for everyone rather than just the individual escaping. That would result in harsher treatments not only by the masters but also by all other folks on the plantation.
The second half of the “Life and Times” which is the bulk of the autobiography, focuses on his political activism and socio-political conditions of his time, not just in the United States but also in other countries where he had visited.
He often goes in-depth to give details about his meetings with people such as John Brown, Abraham Lincoln, William Lloyd Garrison, and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Although the majority of his writings are focused on the horrors of slavery and brutality of white folks in the South, there are few instances in which we hear about racism in the North. He mentions that it was common in the North for white folks to read his newspaper and automatically assume that he’s white or there is a white person behind his success. The bloody draft riots of July 1863 is another historical example of racist brutality in the North, where for three days in New York white mob killed black people for no reason other than them being black.
One of my favorites parts of the book is the chapter on John Brown. He talks about some other radicals such as Samuel R. Ward and the “Free Soil Party”. Douglass was impressed by Ward’s brilliance in speech. He also admired the bravery of John Brown and his men among which there have been many black folks. (2) On page 755, he talks about Brown creating a constitution for his men to avoid anarchy, and he also hid information from them for the sake of security of his missions. Another great account of John Brown’s militancy was given by W.E.B. Du Bois in a book with the same title published in 1909. Douglass also criticizes the bible scholars of the south, many of whom tried to justify slavery using anecdotes from the bible.
“In this the preachers were not much behind the press and the politicians, especially that class of preachers known as Doctors of Divinity. A long list of these came forward with their Bibles to show that neither Christ nor his holy apostles objected to returning fugitives to slavery. Now that that evil day is past, a sight of those sermons would, I doubt not, bring the red blush of shame to the cheeks of many.”
In chapter 9, he talks about the newly arrived immigrants that their hunger and light skin prioritizes them against the interests of the black people. In the same chapter, Douglass describes the ”nameless and shapeless ‘party’ of slavery”. An invisible party that white people from different geographies and socio-political status are believing in.
“Every hour sees us elbowed out of some employment to make room for some newly-arrived emigrant from the Emerald Isle, whose hunger and color entitle him to special favor.”
Later towards the end of the book, he elucidates the importance of “slave narrative” for the struggle to freedom. Douglass’s mission was to tell the story of black folks. And he mentions that philosophy and theology have come to aid the master’s story. Reading Douglass, it might appear that he’s simply praising Lincoln (especially in the appendix), however, with further excavation we can see that his criticism of whiteness is been planted in his writings with an extremely subtle tone.
Read the full review at:
insideanairport
***
January 15, 2010
Can't remember what I read excactly by Douglass, except that I got part of the narrative of his childhood, his escape, his new life, and his thoughts on reconstruction. It was really quite startling, and not in the way I expected. It's no secret that his story would have some horrific moments, but some of the smaller details were pretty raw, like when he related that he had heard people in the North insist that slaves must be happy because they sang. Perhaps it was because that kind of moment seems so much more accessible than some of the brutality that's so bad that it seems distant and foreign.
February 11, 2019
This book includes all three of Frederick Douglass's extraordinary autobiographies, each building on the one before and adding more details as it became safe to do so. It also includes some of his speeches and letters. An exceptionally gifted writer, he brings the horrors of his life as a slave in eastern Maryland vividly to life. His insights into the profound psychic damage that slavery inflicts both on the slave and on the slave-holder are especially powerful and still resonate today, in our politics and our national character. Very highly recommended.
July 21, 2013
The "Narrative of the Life of Federick Douglass" is the powerful story of Douglass’ first-hand experience as a slave, his escape from slavery, and the genesis of his involvement in the abolitionist movement. The frank descriptions and complex subject matter of this authentic text make this book a valuable informative text for older middle school students (7th and 8th grade) in the context of social studies, history, and language arts.
December 4, 2013
Liked it because Slavery was not the wonderful, Father taking care us little children type life many wanted to portray it as.
Also his relationship to Mr. Lincoln.
I liked his speech "What is 4th of July to a Slave?"
more to follow.
Also his relationship to Mr. Lincoln.
I liked his speech "What is 4th of July to a Slave?"
more to follow.
August 17, 2007
Amazing memoir!
November 6, 2009
Hands down my favorite book.
May 28, 2010
An eye opening book!
April 19, 2020
A collection of Frederick Douglass’ three autobiographies: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, My Bondage and My Freedom, and Life and Times of Frederick Douglass.
Douglass’ story is compelling and he shares a lot of interesting background information on the politics and history of his time, but each of the three autobiographies in the book start with the same stories told in a slightly different manner (being a slave, escaping to freedom, and working as an abolitionist), making the exercise of reading the book from start to finish simply exhausting. By time I reached the third autobiography in the book, I was, quite frankly, sick and tired of reading about him. This is not so much a criticism of Douglass as is it the decision of the publishing company to make such a compilation.
If you’re interested in Frederick Douglass, I would recommend his second or third autobiography. The first (Narrative...) was written within a few years of his escape at a time when he could not go into the specifics of his escape or it would have put others at risk. The second book (My Bondage and My Freedom) is better written and goes into more detail about his escape and also includes some of his writings and speeches on anti-slavery. The third book (Life and Times...) is a mixed bag. It covers his time in slavery, but the quality of the writing is not as good as the second book and is disorganized. That said, the section on his escape is written in even greater detail than the second book and was exciting. But, it then goes into excruciating detail about his time as an abolitionist - some of which is interesting; at other points, however, Douglass comes across sounding a bit egotistical and he does a lot of name-dropping (this is a disservice to his character, as I do not believe he was anything but selfless and was merely trying to preserve history). Finally, it recovers through its inclusion of his viewpoints on the Civil War and its aftermath of up to 15 years later, which was enlightening. All three autobiographies disappointed in that they told very little of his wife and children.
In short, I enjoyed the second book most and that’s the one I’d recommend readers start with. And then, if someone wanted to know more about Douglass' escape and everything after, I’d have them read the second half of the third book.
Despite my distaste for this compilation, I really do feel that Douglass' life tells an invaluable lesson and at least one of the three autobiographies included in this collection should be required reading in high school.
Douglass’ story is compelling and he shares a lot of interesting background information on the politics and history of his time, but each of the three autobiographies in the book start with the same stories told in a slightly different manner (being a slave, escaping to freedom, and working as an abolitionist), making the exercise of reading the book from start to finish simply exhausting. By time I reached the third autobiography in the book, I was, quite frankly, sick and tired of reading about him. This is not so much a criticism of Douglass as is it the decision of the publishing company to make such a compilation.
If you’re interested in Frederick Douglass, I would recommend his second or third autobiography. The first (Narrative...) was written within a few years of his escape at a time when he could not go into the specifics of his escape or it would have put others at risk. The second book (My Bondage and My Freedom) is better written and goes into more detail about his escape and also includes some of his writings and speeches on anti-slavery. The third book (Life and Times...) is a mixed bag. It covers his time in slavery, but the quality of the writing is not as good as the second book and is disorganized. That said, the section on his escape is written in even greater detail than the second book and was exciting. But, it then goes into excruciating detail about his time as an abolitionist - some of which is interesting; at other points, however, Douglass comes across sounding a bit egotistical and he does a lot of name-dropping (this is a disservice to his character, as I do not believe he was anything but selfless and was merely trying to preserve history). Finally, it recovers through its inclusion of his viewpoints on the Civil War and its aftermath of up to 15 years later, which was enlightening. All three autobiographies disappointed in that they told very little of his wife and children.
In short, I enjoyed the second book most and that’s the one I’d recommend readers start with. And then, if someone wanted to know more about Douglass' escape and everything after, I’d have them read the second half of the third book.
Despite my distaste for this compilation, I really do feel that Douglass' life tells an invaluable lesson and at least one of the three autobiographies included in this collection should be required reading in high school.
February 19, 2018
This Library of American volume was curated by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr, and in many aspects, Douglass could have been writing today, at least from a moral and philosophical standpoint. I could not read all of the volume without taking breaks. While the descriptions of the physical cruelty toward slaves was heinous enough, the psycho social, cultural, environmental and spiritual abuses were as much so. It was not only what slavery and associated racial prejudice did to the victims, but what it did to the characters of the perpetrators, even those who did not start out with strong convictions as in the case of Sophia Auld, that I found disturbing and compelling. Douglass' memoirs illustrate the curious and complicated bonds between the families of the slave holders and those of the slaves, as in the story of Amanda Auld, the daughter of Lucretia.
A glaring omission for me was in the story of Anna Murray, and how little was there of this relationship, which obviously had grounded Frederick Douglass and allowed him to do his valuable work. There is no doubt of the high esteem he held her, but not many details. I would have liked to learn more of their life together from his perspective, but one gets the sense of privacy in that quarter. His pride in his family with her lifts from the pages.
A profoundly moving read, especially for Black History Month. And, certainly our collective history.
A glaring omission for me was in the story of Anna Murray, and how little was there of this relationship, which obviously had grounded Frederick Douglass and allowed him to do his valuable work. There is no doubt of the high esteem he held her, but not many details. I would have liked to learn more of their life together from his perspective, but one gets the sense of privacy in that quarter. His pride in his family with her lifts from the pages.
A profoundly moving read, especially for Black History Month. And, certainly our collective history.
May 19, 2021
This was a huge undertaking, which I don't think I understood the full extent of until I was in the middle of it. My only reason for docking it a star was because reading them all together, back to back, it gets a little redundant, and I probably would have been better to read one volume and then choose whether I wanted to read the others. While each autobiography gives you something a little different than the others, the main details are the same, and I felt fine with skimming the majority of this all-inclusive volume.
Frederick Douglass was an amazing person, and one of great character and personal strength. His story is inspiring, and also a poignant reminder of the horrors of slavery and racism. The unfortunate thing about reading this as a Marylander and being familiar with the areas he lived in is that not a lot has changed in the people that live, especially, on the Eastern Shore. The mindset is still pretty much the same, and I wonder if any of the residents have taken the time to delve into the area's history with slavery, Frederick Douglass, Harriett Tubman, and the Underground Railroad.
These autobiographies are great works of writing and essential pieces of history. I'm glad I read them, and I feel like everyone should read (at least) one of his autobiographies in their lifetime.
Frederick Douglass was an amazing person, and one of great character and personal strength. His story is inspiring, and also a poignant reminder of the horrors of slavery and racism. The unfortunate thing about reading this as a Marylander and being familiar with the areas he lived in is that not a lot has changed in the people that live, especially, on the Eastern Shore. The mindset is still pretty much the same, and I wonder if any of the residents have taken the time to delve into the area's history with slavery, Frederick Douglass, Harriett Tubman, and the Underground Railroad.
These autobiographies are great works of writing and essential pieces of history. I'm glad I read them, and I feel like everyone should read (at least) one of his autobiographies in their lifetime.
August 7, 2021
This edition contains three versions of Frederick Douglass' autobiography, one written in his youth, shortly after escaping slavery, the second as a young man deeply engaged in the fight for abolition, and the third in his old age, with further information on his life after the Civil War and emancipation, during which time he continued to fight for equal justice for all and was appointed to positions of importance by the federal government. Due to the circumstances of his early life in slavery, Douglass was largely self-educated; nevertheless, it became evident that he was a gifted orator and writer who was pushed to the forefront by note abolitionists. So influential was Douglass that he was eventually seen conversing with, advising, and working alongside some of the greatest thinkers and influencers of the day, including Presidents Lincoln, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, and Harrison. Contains a number of Douglass' own speeches and articles as well as an index to assist researchers. Highly recommended for anyone desiring first-hand knowledge of American slavery, the Civil War, and the continued fight for equal rights
September 12, 2022
Words Of Wisdom, Repeated Three Times, Still Speak Truth
I’m a 71-year-old white guy, college educated, who knew from my high school years that Frederick Douglass was an important figure. But discussed in class as part of the Civil War lecture, I often got him confused in my mind with Stephan A. Douglas - a man with a vastly different world view.
Making 2022 a year when I decided to try to better understand my African American friends, I thought this autobiography would be useful.
It certainly is, but actually, it is three different Douglass works over 40 years, one after another, which mean a lot of repetition.
Douglass was a wonderful speaker and writer, but a man of his era - flowery and prone to very long, multi-parenthetical thoughts. That makes this a fascinating, insightful, critically-important work, but also a tough read at times.
For African Americans, I suspect this is a work by a icon of their culture. But for white folks like me, it may be even more important for our understanding.
Frederick Douglass should be a national icon and hero for all Americans.
I’m a 71-year-old white guy, college educated, who knew from my high school years that Frederick Douglass was an important figure. But discussed in class as part of the Civil War lecture, I often got him confused in my mind with Stephan A. Douglas - a man with a vastly different world view.
Making 2022 a year when I decided to try to better understand my African American friends, I thought this autobiography would be useful.
It certainly is, but actually, it is three different Douglass works over 40 years, one after another, which mean a lot of repetition.
Douglass was a wonderful speaker and writer, but a man of his era - flowery and prone to very long, multi-parenthetical thoughts. That makes this a fascinating, insightful, critically-important work, but also a tough read at times.
For African Americans, I suspect this is a work by a icon of their culture. But for white folks like me, it may be even more important for our understanding.
Frederick Douglass should be a national icon and hero for all Americans.
February 22, 2021
A great inspirational and educational read
Very glad I was able to get the collection in one volume like this. Seeing the evolution of Douglas and the experiences he faced, brought life into the reading and context to the things he faced and sadly to some things we face now. Particularly in regards to ignorance. It was the great slave master that he recognised was the thing he had to overcome first before he would have his freedom. Thankfully, this he did and we now have three great inspirational chronicles of his life, spanning different perspectives and periods of his challenged life. Also included are some of his writings and speeches, which added some historical perspective to things that are rarely, if ever, taught about the period surrounding the Civil War and afterwards. So much to unpack. Needless to say, highest recommendation.
Very glad I was able to get the collection in one volume like this. Seeing the evolution of Douglas and the experiences he faced, brought life into the reading and context to the things he faced and sadly to some things we face now. Particularly in regards to ignorance. It was the great slave master that he recognised was the thing he had to overcome first before he would have his freedom. Thankfully, this he did and we now have three great inspirational chronicles of his life, spanning different perspectives and periods of his challenged life. Also included are some of his writings and speeches, which added some historical perspective to things that are rarely, if ever, taught about the period surrounding the Civil War and afterwards. So much to unpack. Needless to say, highest recommendation.
March 31, 2020
Douglass wrote 3 autobiographies at different points in his life and they are all contained in this book along with a number of his speeches. Douglass was a fugitive slave, an auto didact with no formal education, a laborer, an acclaimed orator, a newspaper editor and publisher, a diplomat, and Marshall of Washington D.C. He lived a fascinating and dangerous life and was one of the 2 or 3 most influential abolitionists in American history. There are books that abridge and reconcile the 3 narratives, but I like having the original texts. I wish there were some footnotes to provide background con the many historical figures Douglass met.
September 21, 2020
I have read Douglass’ first and second autobiographies before but reading all three together was really interesting. I enjoyed seeing his perspective change a few years after escaping slavery to nearly the end of his great life. While his first autobiography is a straightforward narrative, his second has an abolitionist point of view, and more details that support his cause. I learned a lot from his third which focuses a lot more on black rights and quality of life - particularly how that pertains to the world stage.
November 2, 2022
Three autobiographies by Frederick Douglass, all written at different points in his life. I've only been able to finish the first two thus far (this is a heavy read, and the autobiographies tend to repeat themselves in certain spots as Douglass reflects on the same memories of slavery), but this is undoubtedly a five-star study for anyone interested in American Civil War-era history as well as those delving into the sordid past of the US.
May 14, 2023
Heart-breaking and yet so incredibly inspiring. This is a must-read for everyone because it not only details the horrors of slavery, but also the power of knowledge. It is incredibly eye-opening - even as a POC.
I was especially struck by the way that, despite the great lengths he went to gain his freedom, he continually mentions what an extreme amount of luck he had. It kept me on the edge of my seat every time we saw how close he was to losing everything.
I was especially struck by the way that, despite the great lengths he went to gain his freedom, he continually mentions what an extreme amount of luck he had. It kept me on the edge of my seat every time we saw how close he was to losing everything.
March 6, 2025
At 80 years a two war veteran a retired police officer etc., I somehow thought slavery as we learn of it starting as a boy on TV and Hollywood, sure even back then you knew it
Was bad BUT, no words can describe this evil
My eyes have been opened at this late time in my life and I guess I should be grateful not carrying this evil history of America with me.
So ugly, May God bless Mr. Douglas soul.
Was bad BUT, no words can describe this evil
My eyes have been opened at this late time in my life and I guess I should be grateful not carrying this evil history of America with me.
So ugly, May God bless Mr. Douglas soul.
December 10, 2023
I only read "A Narrative." Such beautiful prose for such horrid circumstances that give way to light. Douglass' appendix on the difference between slaveholding Christianity and true Christianity is worth the entire book! I hate I just now got to read this, but it's never too late to pick it up. I plan on reading the other two autobiographies. This is the copy to get! (12.09.23).
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