Life and Times of Frederick Douglass
His Early Life as a Slave, His Escape From Bondage and His Complete Life Story
📘 About This Book
"Life and Times of Frederick Douglass" is the third and last autobiography of Frederick Douglass. In this finial memoir Douglas gives more details about his life as a slave and his escape from slavery than he did in his two previous autobiographies. Frederick Douglass (1818 – 1895) was an African-American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. After escaping from slavery in Maryland, he became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York, gaining note for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writings. Contents: Author's Birth Removal From Grandmother's Troubles of Childhood A General Survey of the Slave Plantation A Slaveholder's Character A Child's Reasoning Luxuries at the Great House Characteristics of Overseers Change of Location Learning to Read Growing in Knowledge Religious Nature Awakened The Vicissitudes of Slave Life Experience in St. Michaels Covey, the Negro Breaker Another Pressure of the Tyrant's Vise The Last Flogging New Relations and Duties The Runaway Plot Escape From Slavery Life as a Freeman Introduced to the Abolitionists Recollections of Old Friends One Hundred Conventions Impressions Abroad Triumphs and Trials John Brown and Mrs. Stowe Increasing Demands of the Slave Power The Beginning of the End Secession and War Hope for the Nation Vast Changes Living and Learning Weighed in the Balance "Time Makes All Things Even" Incidents and Events "Honor to Whom Honor" Retrospection Later Life A Grand Occasion Doubts as to Garfield's Course Recorder of Deeds President Cleveland's Administration The Supreme Court Decision Defeat of James G. Blaine European Tour Continuation of European Tour The Campaign of 1888 Administration of President Harrison Minister to Haïti Continued Negotiations for the Môle St. Nicolas
📖 Summary
Life and Times of Frederick Douglass stands as the final and most comprehensive autobiography penned by the remarkable African-American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. Spanning a massive 678 pages, this definitive memoir delves deeply into the harrowing experiences of Douglass's early years under the yoke of slavery in Maryland, providing far greater detail about his grueling life as a slave and his daring escape than his two previous autobiographical works. Following his successful escape to freedom, Douglass emerged as a towering national leader of the abolitionist movement across Massachusetts and New York, earning widespread renown for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writings. The text meticulously retraces his personal evolution, beginning with his birth and early removal from his grandmother, detailing the profound troubles of his childhood, and offering a general survey of the brutal slave plantation system. Douglass examines the complex characters of slaveholders, the reasoning of a child caught in bondage, the stark contrasts of luxuries at the great house, the harsh characteristics of overseers, and the various changes that shaped his worldview. Through this sweeping narrative, Douglass does not merely recount his own extraordinary journey from chattel slavery to statesmanship; he presents a vivid, unvarnished historical document that captures the brutal realities of the American institution of slavery and the resilient human spirit required to dismantle it. This expansive volume serves as both a deeply personal reflection on a life lived in relentless pursuit of justice and an invaluable historical record of an era defined by fierce moral struggle, making it an essential cornerstone of American literature and autobiography.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Offers the most detailed and comprehensive account of Douglass's life and escape.
Written by a primary historical figure who lived through the horrors of slavery.
Features brilliant prose and powerful oratory skills translated into writing.
Provides profound historical insights into the American abolitionist movement.
⚠️ Cons
The substantial length of 678 pages may feel daunting for casual readers.
Contains deeply distressing descriptions of the brutality of slavery.
✍️ About the Author
❓ FAQ
What is Life and Times of Frederick Douglass about? +
It is the third and final autobiography of Frederick Douglass, detailing his life as a slave, his escape, and his career as an abolitionist and statesman.
How does this book differ from Douglass's previous memoirs? +
This final memoir provides significantly more details about his life as a slave and his escape from slavery than his two previous autobiographical works.
Who is the author of the book? +
The author is Frederick Douglass, a prominent 19th-century African-American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman.
When was this edition published? +
This particular edition of the book was published in 2018.
How many pages are in this edition? +
This comprehensive edition spans 678 pages.
