Audiobook · read by volunteers
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass (1818–1895)
Read by Jeanette Ferguson · 14 chapters · 4 h 02
About the book
Born into slavery in Maryland, Frederick Douglass learned to read in secret, a decision that changed the course of his life. In this short and powerful memoir, published in 1845, he describes the cruelty he witnessed and endured, the people who helped him and the courage it took to escape. He tells what slavery did to those who suffered it and to those who profited from it, and he does so in plain, forceful language that leaves no room for excuses. The book made him famous as a speaker and writer, and it became a landmark of American literature and of the antislavery movement. Jeanette Ferguson reads the fourteen sections, including two introductory letters, in about four hours. The voice is direct and unforgettable, and it deserves to be heard.
Introduction
Frederick Douglass was born in Maryland around 1818 and died in 1895. After escaping slavery in 1838, he settled in the North, where he became a leading abolitionist, an orator of great skill and a newspaper editor. He later served in several public offices and continued to speak on behalf of civil rights until the end of his life. His writings include three autobiographies, of which the first is the Narrative, published in 1845.
The book was an immediate success and went through many editions in the United States and in Europe. It begins with a preface by the abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison and a letter from Wendell Phillips, which vouched for the author's honesty at a time when many doubted that a former slave could have written such a book. Douglass describes his childhood, his lessons in reading and his years as a labourer, and he reflects on religion, hypocrisy and freedom.
This LibriVox recording runs for about four hours and is divided into 14 sections. It is read by one volunteer, Jeanette Ferguson. It is one of the best-known narratives written by former slaves, and its candid, dignified voice remains moving, making it a worthwhile listen for anyone who wants to understand the history of American slavery from the testimony of one who lived it.
The book is short, but its effect is considerable. Douglass writes with great restraint and precision, and he builds his case through detail rather than through speeches. It remains one of the key texts for understanding the history of the United States and a model of clear and truthful writing.
Public domain
Frederick Douglass died in 1895: the work is in the public domain in Switzerland, more than 70 years after the author’s death.
The LibriVox volunteers dedicated this recording to the public domain.
Sources : LibriVox page · Files at the Internet Archive · Original text