Slavery Remembered: A Record of Twentieth-Century Slave Narratives

by Paul D. Escott

Slavery Remembered is the first major attempt to analyze the slave narratives gathered as part of the Federal Writers' Project. Paul Escott's sensitive examination of each of the nearly 2,400 narratives and his quantitative analysis of the narratives as a whole eloquently present the differing beliefs and experiences of masters and slaves. The book describes slave attitudes and actions; slave-master relationships; the conditions of slave life, including diet, physical treatment, working conditions, housing, forms of resistance, and black overseers; slave cultural institutions; status distinctions among slaves; experiences during the Civil War and Reconstruction; and the subsequent life histories of the former slaves.

An important contribution to the study of American slavery, Slavery Remembered is an ideal classroom text for American history surveys as well as more specialized courses.

<!--This is the first major attempt to analyze the slave narratives in the Federal Writers' Project. Escott read nearly 2,400 narratives to establish 81 categories of information for computer analysis. Tables presenting this data are set within a well-organized text that includes many quotations. Slavery Remembered is an important contribution to the study of American slavery and, because of its brevity and clarity, an ideal classroom text for American history surveys as well as more specialized courses.-->

Genres: History

236 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1979

About the author

Paul D. Escott is a professor emeritus, historian, and author. He is a professor at Wake Forest University and served as the college's dean for nine years. He has written some 13 books.
He graduated with a B.A. from Harvard College and with M.A. and P.h.D. degrees from Duke University.