NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDRICK DOUGLASS

by Fredrick Douglass

In what would become one of five autobiographies written during his lifetime, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass , the former slave recounts his journey from being born into slavery around 1818 until his eventual escape to New York in 1838. Douglass was a prolific writer and orator whose many speeches and essays advocated not only for the abolition of slavery but for women’s voting rights and human rights. This book became one of the most influential and inspirational stories in the areas of human and civil rights.

This is a powerful tale of the cumulative effect of positive changes and the ability of a man to shape his own destiny. Douglass understood the power of education stating, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” His persuasive writings and insightful criticism of the brutality and unjustness of slavery was used as an example by abolitionists of his day as a powerful counter argument to the slave holder’s claim that slaves did not possess the intellectual capacity to become productive, responsible American citizens.

Genres: History, Classics

122 pages, Paperback

Published August 24, 2021

Reviews

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

School reading

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fascinating.

[Daniel M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give The book Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass a four out of five. This book is a sad but amazing book. I like his theme of the story and it being his perspective on why he is against slavery. For example he talks about how he hates slavery because the slave owners would keep them ignorant. He even talks about how he never met a slave who knew their own age. “ I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it. By far the larger part of the slaves know as little of their ages as horses know of theirs, and it is the wish of most masters within my knowledge to keep their slaves thus ignorant.” (Douglass 31). I also like Fredericks use of imagery. For example Fredrick is describing what their master would do to them and how he treated them. “He would at times seem to take great pleasure in whipping a slave. I have often been awakened at the dawn of the day by the most heart-rending shrieks of an own aunt of mine, whom he used to tie up to a joist and whip upon her back till she was literally covered with blood.”( Douglass 35). He is forced everyday and night to work in terrible conditions and forced to hear People he knows and cares about being tortured. Another example of imagery being shown is when he talks about what the children had to deal with when they weren't able to work. “ The child unable to work in the field had neither shoes, stockings, jackets, nor trousers given to them.” (Douglass 41). This shows you what a child might have looked like when and how they were treated when they weren't able to help in the fields. Finally for the resolution i like how he talks about his plan to escape. In the book he doesn't talk about how he escaped in order to protect the people who helped him escape. “ On the third day of September, 1838, I left my chains, and succeeded in reaching New York without the slightest interruption of any kind. How I did so,- what means I adopted,- I must leave unexplained, for the reasons before mentioned.” (Douglass 148). Although he doesn't talk about how he escaped, I like how he was able to leave the terrible life he had and start a new one and talk about his experience so others will learn what really happened.

[Izzy Markle · Rating 3 out of 5]

What this book does really well is give insight into the formative thoughts and experiences of Fredrick Douglas as they developed in his young life. It stirs a healthy hatred towards slavery and warns of the dangers and horrors of ingrained and accepted societal evils and of religion detached from its source of the love of God, love for both Christ and one’s fellow man.

Where the book left me wanting more is in the story of his escape to freedom and his development as a abolitionist. While he has reasons why he didn’t share these things, the story felt hollow with these central points being confined to a couple paragraphs each.

Overall, a short but moving read on the young life of an incredible and resilient man.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second book I have completed in 2024. I am not sure if I read this book, or portions of it back in high school in the United States.

It is definitely a book that should be taught in school both for showing the horrors of slavery but also for showing the strength and resolve that is in all of us. For the truly remarkable thing about Fredrick Douglas is how he never gave up hope, born into the most horrible circumstances imaginable and he would not be denied. Teaching himself how to read and write risking beatings and punishments from his masters. Attempting to escape to the north and freedom on multiple occasions with the knowledge of what being caught would bring him.

Truly a remarkable man.

[Sam Ruppert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is a good book, but it’s not for me. It is, however, a very important book that I think should be read if you get the chance. It clearly walks you through Frederick Douglass’s life as a slave from when he was young and separated from his mother, all the way to after he escaped slavery. He describes the brutal whippings he has seen and received, described the brutal way slaves like Denby were killed and the slaveholders weren't held accountable, and describes the emotional pain going through this causes. This is a very important book for understanding just how bad slavery truly was.

[Todd Saukko · Rating 5 out of 5]

What more is to say about this classic? This is a very short piece of work, but also quite easy to understand. It was riveting all the way through. It was also terrifying, horrifying, and sad to read and learn about the things that happened to Fredrick Douglass while he was a slave. A must read if you are into civil rights and american history.

[capturedbyannamarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So impactful and incredibly written. Everyone needs to read

[Gillian Vilela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it twice.

Theoretical must read

Read for class

[archisa]

read this for class!

[Sean Deegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The end was the best - a straight up telling of what’s what about Christians owning slaves.

[Lucie · Rating 5 out of 5]

read for my autobiography class 💃🕺💃

[audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️ - An important story to tell, told beautifully.

[Fran · Rating 3 out of 5]

i learned about slavery and fredrick douglass in school, but reading this showed me just how strong douglass was for being able to hold onto hope