I'm not sure, now, how I stumbled upon this. I read it on my Kindle, and it seems I downloaded it to that device from Proect Gutenberg* while I was looking for travel writing.

It's a series of letters written, mostly from Britain but also Paris, by a former (escaped rather than freed) slave from the southern United States.

After getting his freedom, he educated himself (very well) and was invited to take part in various lecture tours, in the States and Abroad, hosted by abolitionists.

The book takes the form of a series of letters to his friends and family at home, over the course of which most of his history is revealed. He also makes a lot of comments comparing Britain with America - where the former receives much more of a favourable report. Although he does have a rather rosy view of the lives of the poor in Britain which isn't supported by contemporary literature (I'm thinking particularly of what Engels had to say about London and Manchester).

But all in all a very interesting and revealing read. Especially the part where he visits Walter Scott's house and gives his opinion that it will become the most visited house in Britain over the next hundred years.

*if you have never looked at that most fabulous of projects, go now!