narrative of the life of frederick douglass an american slave by frederick douglass

and Europe, and was quickly translated into both French and German. He became a public speaker and writer to try to stop it in its tracks, believing that if he showed people what slavery was really like, they would understand why it needed to be abolished.Īnd who better than a former slave to tell the truth about slavery? So even though Douglass aims to tell us his personal story, he never forgets the larger goal of abolishing slavery.ĭouglass's Narrative was an instant success, selling over thirty-five thousand copies in the U.S. When Douglass wrote this book in 1845, slavery was still legal in much of the United States. Unsurprisingly, Narrative is bit more than an autobiography it's also strong political text. It's one of the most thrilling, inspiring and powerful autobiographies that's out there.

That's right: Douglass fought against the heinous system of slavery and learned how to read and write, fought against the tyranny of amoral masters, and fled to freedom.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: Memoir Study Guide Introductionįrederick Douglass 's Narrative is no ordinary autobiography: it's the story of his life from the time he was born a slave to the time of his escape to freedom in the North.

Narrative of the life of frederick douglass an american slave by frederick douglass