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330th out of 8,088 books
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37,971 voters
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Born into a family of slaves, Frederick Douglass educated himself through sheer determination. His unconquered will to triumph over his circumstances makes his one of America’s best and most unlikely success stories. Douglass’ own account of his journey from slave to one of America’s great statesmen, writers, and orators is as fascinating as it is inspiring.
This Prestwick...more
This Prestwick...more
Paperback, 158 pages
Published
September 1st 2004
by Ingram
(first published 1845)
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Thank you Mr. Douglass…this was a life changer for me. You are a true American hero and the fact that there are not more monuments, government buildings, holidays or other commemorations of your life seems to me an oversight of epic proportions.
How often is it that you can honestly say that you’ll never be the same after reading a book? Well, this life story of a singular individual has changed me....irrevocably. I will never be able to sufficiently express my gratitude to Mr. Douglass for that...more
How often is it that you can honestly say that you’ll never be the same after reading a book? Well, this life story of a singular individual has changed me....irrevocably. I will never be able to sufficiently express my gratitude to Mr. Douglass for that...more
Very short & to the point, Douglass paints the picture of being a slave better than any other book I've read on the subject. His first hand account blows away 'Roots' or even the 'Confessions of Nat Turner' with its simple, understated prose. Huge thanks to Nancy, a friend here on GR, that recommended & gave me the book.
Why would a man remain in slavery when there was any chance of escape? This is a question I've always wondered about. He tells us. The courage & determination that it...more
Why would a man remain in slavery when there was any chance of escape? This is a question I've always wondered about. He tells us. The courage & determination that it...more
My history professor assigned 4 books to read over the semester. I found the first 2 to be really boring, I did not enjoy them at all. Probably it had to do with the fact that my subconscious tends to hate everything that I'm forced to do. Like for example, if I'm not allowed to be absent from a class more than 3 times during the semester without failing it, I hate going, and feel the pressure everyday of having to drag myself to go to that particular class. On the contrary, if the teacher didn'...more
I know that most Goodreads members probably have their minds made up about slavery by now, but I had forgotten until recently what a remarkable piece of literature this is:
"On the one hand, there stood slavery, a stern reality,
glaring frightfully upon us,- its robes already crimsoned
with the blood of millions, and even now feasting itself
greedily upon our own flesh. On the other hand,
away back in the dim distance, under the flickering light
of the north star, behind some craggy hill or snow-cove...more
"On the one hand, there stood slavery, a stern reality,
glaring frightfully upon us,- its robes already crimsoned
with the blood of millions, and even now feasting itself
greedily upon our own flesh. On the other hand,
away back in the dim distance, under the flickering light
of the north star, behind some craggy hill or snow-cove...more
This is one of the most amazing pieces of writing I have ever read. Unfortunately, I grew up in Texas--a fact for which I have only recently forgiven my parents, with difficulty--and therefore was never forced to read anything more incendiary than To Kill a Mocking Bird or Uncle Tom's Cabin. Digression: Also, I had a creationist biology teacher. But yes. We didn't read any firsthand slave narratives. I don't even remember learning about the civil rights movements. Maybe we did. All of this jibba...more
Not bad for a guy who taught himself to write while his masters weren't looking. Even the smallest knowledge of Douglass' post-slave life makes you wonder at the title: Who would have the gall to chain him up, of all men? The facts of slavery are still frightening after all this time. What makes it scarier is that Douglass was in Maryland, the Northernmost of southern states. Evidentally, the farther south you were the worse it was, so if this happened in Maryland, I don't like to think about Lo...more
An American Classic
4.5 hours
Narrated by Jonathan Reese
Published by Tantor Media
Frederick Douglass wrote three autobiographies during his life. Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave , written in 1845, is, perhaps, the most famous. The others were My Bondage and My Freedom (1855) and Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (1881, revised 1892).
Written as a response to those that doubted that such an intelligent and well-spoken man could have ever been a slave, Narrative tells...more
4.5 hours
Narrated by Jonathan Reese
Published by Tantor Media
Frederick Douglass wrote three autobiographies during his life. Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave , written in 1845, is, perhaps, the most famous. The others were My Bondage and My Freedom (1855) and Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (1881, revised 1892).
Written as a response to those that doubted that such an intelligent and well-spoken man could have ever been a slave, Narrative tells...more
I love the review on here that says, "This book was kind of hard to get into because of the high level words used in this book." In the year 2012 a grown adult/product of the USA's educational system finds the vocabulary of a self-taught 19th century slave beyond their comprehension, ahahahahahahaha God Bless America.
Who better to tell the story of a slave than a slave? Who better to tell the story of Frederick Douglass than Frederick Douglass? Fluent and powerful, this book offers insight into the conatus (!) that makes the slave declare his freedom at any cost.
I have often been utterly astonished, since I came to the north, to find persons who could speak of the singing, among slaves, as evidence of their contentment and happiness. It is impossible to conceive of a greater mistake. Slaves sing most when th...more
I have often been utterly astonished, since I came to the north, to find persons who could speak of the singing, among slaves, as evidence of their contentment and happiness. It is impossible to conceive of a greater mistake. Slaves sing most when th...more
This book was kind of hard to get into because of the high level words used in this book. Also it talks about very graphic things that i don't feel comfortable with. But when it came to discussion, I liked using information from the book to back up my topic. I think that this book is fairly well and a little bit boring. It has some good points about the history of slavery and how stressful is was to work in fields for long periods of time.
It is a credit to Frederick Douglass's keen perception that a book written over one hundred and seventy years ago about the evils of slavery can be pertinent today. We cannot afford to overlook Douglass's observations of how gaining power works on his masters. Even though the dynamics of master and slave are gone today, many people still exercise authority over others, parents over children, employers over employees, clergy over their congregations, and politicians over their constituencies. Too...more
Apr 11, 2008
Jenny Zarate
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
any humans, but especially literate racists, if there are any.
I read this book for the first time in 1998 in a classroom setting. Having remembered that I liked it then, I re-read it during my early pregnancy, back when I had a lot of time and could keep both eyes in one spot for an extended period of time. I don't know if it was the hormones, or just the fact that I wasn't feeling the pressure of being the only white girl in the African American Literature class, but it was even better than I had previously remembered it.
Quick quote from a colleague of mi...more
Quick quote from a colleague of mi...more
May 13, 2008
Tyler
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
History and Biography fans
Shelves:
non-fiction
The book best suits history buffs and fans of biographies. The writing itself, while clearly that of an educated man with a point of view to put forth, also brings into the narrative the issues of alcohol and women's rights. Bringing up these issues tends to distract from the main theme, the evils of slavery. Also, the style is too emotionally forceful, where a little bit of subtlety would have illustrated the point better. The mention of earning one's own way would strike modern readers as a pl...more
It is impossible for a white person of this time to even imagine the reality known by the colored slaves of the 19th century. Even after having read such books as Uncle Tom's Cabin....Black Like Me....and Middle Passage, among others, I have only had a glimpse at the suffering of an enslaved people. This book gives yet another look into that terrible existence and into the mind and heart of an amazing man.
Slavery still exists in this world today. In some parts of America, the Civil War is still...more
Slavery still exists in this world today. In some parts of America, the Civil War is still...more
Powerful, eloquent and utterly moving, especially considering it was written by a man who taught himself how to read and write while a slave. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass regrettably does not go into detail regarding the particulars of Douglass' escape to freedom. Having written his memoirs while slavery was still ongoing, he was afraid to reveal his methods for fear of endangering the lives of those who assisted him, as well as potentially shutting down an avenue of escape fo...more
The Narrarative of the life of Fredrick was very good considering the fact that i do not like autobiography's. It had some very good points in the book. It had many central themes such as perservenerce, suffring, and self worth. Fredrick Douglass was an amazing man who displayed all of these charachteristics.
I thought that it was amazing that he learned how to read from the little basics he was taught as a young boy. This is an impressive skill that initially started some foreshadowing of his su...more
I thought that it was amazing that he learned how to read from the little basics he was taught as a young boy. This is an impressive skill that initially started some foreshadowing of his su...more
One of the functions of literature is to educate its reader or broaden their minds. Even fiction can have this effect, by opening one's mind to fantasy or alternate realities. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass serves to do both: educate and broaden.
The story allows the reader to grasp the realities of slavery which, especially for today's reader, feel very remote. By providing a first hand account of his experiences, the reader is right there alongside him, understanding the emotions...more
The story allows the reader to grasp the realities of slavery which, especially for today's reader, feel very remote. By providing a first hand account of his experiences, the reader is right there alongside him, understanding the emotions...more
From the back cover: "Published in 1845, this autobiography powerfully details the life of the internationally famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass from his birth into slavery in [about:] 1818 to his escape to the North in 1838--how he endured the daily physical and spiritual brutalities of his owners and drivers, how he learned to read and write, and how we grew into a man who could only live free or die."
To say this is a moving book would be an understatement. Douglass' narrative is a vital...more
To say this is a moving book would be an understatement. Douglass' narrative is a vital...more
For This quarter I chose to read the book “The Life of Frederick Douglass” this is a really good book it is about slavery and the hard times from Frederick Douglass’s point of view and how he experience things. I chose to read this book because it is key to African Americans to read this book because slavery was a key factor in the south and how we came to what we are today. They had grueling job of working on farms and doing everything that there master told them to do, and if most people toda...more
This is an excellent narrative from a slave of the highest acumen. This books details the oppression that Douglass went through before he finally escaped to freedom.
Douglass wrote several autobiographies, but this is the most read. This narrative is in a genre that was popular with abolitionists in the pre-war north. The reader should note that most of the narratives written at that time had a rigid caste, so Douglass' narrative is not as original as it might seem. In his later autobiographies h...more
Douglass wrote several autobiographies, but this is the most read. This narrative is in a genre that was popular with abolitionists in the pre-war north. The reader should note that most of the narratives written at that time had a rigid caste, so Douglass' narrative is not as original as it might seem. In his later autobiographies h...more
This is Douglass's first autobiography, written only 7 years after he escaped from slavery in 1838. It is the RAW truth and a very powerful page-turner. It's painful to read its descriptions of physical hardship and pain, and its acknowledgement not only of the way slavery destroyed the bodies, hearts, and minds of the slaves but also how it brutalized white slave-owners who had previously been kind people. His description of life under Mr. Covey, the "slave-breaker," makes the idea of eternal h...more
The book The Life of Frederick Douglass is about slavery from Frederick Douglass’s point of view. Slavery became a key factor in the south; working on farms and doing everything that there master tells them to do. If slaves didn’t listen then they would be brutally beaten. An example from the story ”Mr. Covey gave me a very severe whipping, cutting my back, causing the blood to run, and raising ridges on my flesh as large as my little finger.” (Frederick, 51) Slavery isn’t just unfair it is cru...more
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is about Frederick Douglass who was born into bondage but escaped to freedom. This book is very remarkable because Frederick Douglass wrote this book himself, he taught himself how to read and write secretly. The riveting narrative also takes us readers through the horrors of life as a slave. This book is also amazing, because it is genuinely written by an actual slave who lived through it, and no one can tell something better than the actual pers...more
The main purpose the book “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” is to tell people the truth about slavery. The author Frederick Douglass informs people about his experience and how he went through it.He also talks about the various problems slaves went through and how they were treated. The book tells us how each slave master was different and the various personalities of each of his slave masters. The book aimed at getting people to believe in the harsh realities of slavery. Frederick...more
Review of the narrative life of Fredrick Douglass, an American slave.
In this narrative Fredrick Douglass explains how he was separated from his mother at birth and how his master won’t tell him his own birthday. As the story goes on you learn more and more about life as a slave he puts great detail into some of the torturous things they did to him and his family. Things like when he was whipped, when he saw his family being whipped and many worse things. He also explains his previous owner which...more
In this narrative Fredrick Douglass explains how he was separated from his mother at birth and how his master won’t tell him his own birthday. As the story goes on you learn more and more about life as a slave he puts great detail into some of the torturous things they did to him and his family. Things like when he was whipped, when he saw his family being whipped and many worse things. He also explains his previous owner which...more
This book was overall a good read. It was great to read about Douglass's actually experience as a slave. The book had its dull moments were it seemed like there was just a bunch of words mixed up. Also, because this book was written so long ago, the vocabulary was extremely difficult to comprehend. The book had its interesting moments like when Douglass vows to learn how to read on his own. The struggle that slaves went through is very hard and sad to read. The vivid details about how the slave...more
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass was a tedious book, in my opinion. While the book was filled with informative information it was boring. It was just a list of facts in chronological order that Frederick Douglass went through. However, the book was enlightening to read. Since, very few slaves knew how to read or even write in that time, to read firsthand the account of a slave and the struggles Douglass went through to read and ultimately become free, was powerful. This narrative...more
This book was very interesting when it came to the the mental process that Douglass was going through. He gave the reader a clear image of how he felt at the moment. There were sometimes that I wished he would delve deeper into the hows and whys about other people's actions instead of summarizing what they did over all. It is amazing how this book was written by an actual slave, and it helps to understand better their point of view because they have gone through many horrifying gruesome events....more
This book is a good informational Narrative book to read about the life of slaves, during the time era of slavery; However, I did not personally enjoy reading this book, because often times I will fall asleep due to its pedestrian way of explaining the life of Frederick Douglass. What would have made enhanced the book for readers would be to help draw pictures of events in books including, figurative language, and words that would help the reader creates pictures in their heads. This book lets t...more
This specific version of the book is very helpful to gather the gist of the life of Frederick Douglass. Although the book is short, it has the key points and main decisions that Frederick Douglass had made to become an amazing free man. It seems to me that every person should have their own opinion about life, and how no one should be able to control it. Frederick Douglass demonstrated this by rebelling against one of his slave owners, and from thereon out, Frederick Douglass became a smarter ma...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglass' abolitionism sexist? | 7 | 37 | Jan 02, 2013 04:35pm | |
| Enchanted Bookends: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass | 1 | 4 | Apr 13, 2012 05:43pm | |
| Machinery of oppression | 1 | 7 | Mar 16, 2010 03:25pm | |
| Slavery in America | 1 | 21 | Jan 27, 2008 05:32am |
Frederick Douglass (born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey) was an American abolitionist, editor, orator, author, statesman and reformer. Called "The Sage of Anacostia" and "The Lion of Anacostia", Douglass is one of the most prominent figures in African-American history and United States history. In 1872, Douglass was nominated as the vice presidential candidate on the Equal Rights Party ticke...more
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“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 the 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 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.”
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“I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only increased my desire to be free, and set me to thinking of plans to gain my freedom. I have found that, to make a contented slave, it is necessary to make a thoughtless one. It is necessary to darken his moral and mental vision, and, as far as possible, to annihilate the power of reason. He must be able to detect no inconsistencies in slavery; he must be made to feel that slavery is right; and he can be brought to that only when he ceased to be a man.”
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