Frederick Douglass : Autobiographies : Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave My Bondage and My Freedom Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (Library of America)

Frederick Douglass, born a slave, educated himself, escaped, and made himself one of the greatest leaders in American history. His brilliant anti-slavery speeches were so fiercely intelligent, and so startlingly eloquent, that many people didn't believe he had been a slave. To prove them wrong, Douglass decided to write his own story. His autobiographical narratives stunned the world, and have shocked, moved, and inspired readers ever since. Here, complete for the first time in one authoritative volume, are the three powerful and gripping stories, now recognized as classics of American writing. Fascinating firsthand accounts of slavery and abolitionism, John Brown and Abraham Lincoln, Civil War, Reconstruction, and the emerging struggle for civil rights, they are above all the inspiring story of a self-made American: a slave who became adviser to the President, minister to Haiti, and the most influential black American of the nineteenth century. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. presents the only authoritative edition of all three autobiographies by the escaped slave who became a great American leader.Here in this Library of America volume are collected Frederick Douglass's three autobiographical narratives, now recognized as classics of both American history and American literature. Writing with the eloquence and fierce intelligence that made him a brilliantly effective spokesman for the abolition of slavery and equal rights, Douglass shapes an inspiring vision of self-realization in the face of monumental odds.Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (1845), published seven years after his escape, was written in part as a response to skeptics who refused to believe that so articulate an orator could ever have been a slave. A powerfully compressed account of the cruelty and oppression of the Maryland plantation culture into which Douglass was born, it brought him to the forefront of the anti-slavery movement and drew thousands, black and white, to the cause.In My Bondage and My Freedom (1855), Douglass expands the account of his slave years. With astonishing psychological penetration, he probes the painful ambiguities and subtly corrosive effects of black-white relations under slavery, and recounts his determined resistance to segregation in the North. The book also incorporates extracts from Douglass's speeches, including the searing “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”Life and Times, first published in 1881, records Douglass's efforts to keep alive the struggle for racial equality udirng Reconstruction. John Brown, Abraham Lincoln, William Lloyd Garrison, and Harriet Beecher Stowe all feature prominently in this chronicle of a crucial epoch in American history. The revised edition of 1893, presented here, includes an account of his controversial diplomatic mission to Haiti.This volume contains a detailed chronology of Douglass's life, notes providing further background on the events and people mentioned, and an account of the textual history of each of the autobiographies.LIBRARY OF AMERICA is an independent nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1979 to preserve our nation's literary heritage by publishing, and keeping permanently in print, America's best and most significant writing. The Library of America series includes more than 300 volumes to date, authoritative editions that average 1,000 pages in length, feature cloth covers, sewn bindings, and ribbon markers, and are printed on premium acid-free paper that will last for centuries. Born A Slave, Frederick Douglass Educated Himself, Escaped, And Made Himself One Of The Greatest Leaders In American History. His Three Autobiographical Narratives, Collected Here In One Volume, Are Now Recognized As Classics Of Both American History And American Literature. Writing With The Eloquence And Fierce Intelligence That Made Him A Brilliantly Effective Spokesman For Abolition And Equal Rights, Douglass Shapes An Inspiring Vision Of Self-realization In The Face Of Monumental Odds. Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglas, An American Slave (1845), Published Seven Years After His Escape, Was Written In Part As A Response To Skeptics Who Refused To Believe That So Articulate An Orator Could Ever Have Been A Slave. A Powerfully Compressed Account Of The Cruelty And Oppression Of The Maryland Plantation Culture Into Which Douglass Was Born, It Brought Him To The Forefront Of The Anti-slavery Movement And Drew Thousands, Black And White, To The Cause. In My Bondage And My Freedom (1855), Written After He Had Established Himself As A Newspaper Editor, Douglass Expands The Account Of His Slavery Years. With Astonishing Psychological Penetration, He Probes The Painful Ambiguities And Subtly Corrosive Effects Of Black-white Relations Under Slavery; And Goes On To Account His Determined Resistance To Segregation In The North. The Book Also Incorporates Extracts From Douglass' Renowned Speeches, Including The Searing What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July? Life And Times Of Frederick Douglass, First Published In 1881, Records Douglass' Efforts To Keep Alive The Struggle For Racial Equality In The Years Following The Civil War. Now A Socially And Politically Prominent Figure, He Looks Back, With A Mixture Of Pride And Bitterness; On The Triumphs And Humiliations Of A Unique Public Career. John Brown, Abraham Lincoln, William Lloyd Garrison, And Harriet Beecher Stowe Are All Featured Prominently In This Chronicle Of A Crucial Epoch In American History. The Revised Edition Of 1893, Presented Here, Includes An Account Of His Controversial Diplomatic Mission To Haiti. This Volume Contains A Detailed Chronology Of Douglass' Life, Notes Providing Further Background On The Events And People Mentioned, And An Account Of The Textual History Of Each Of The Autobiographies.--jacket. Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave -- My Bondage And My Freedom -- Life And Times Of Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass ; [edited By Henry Louis Gates]. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Born a slave, Frederick Douglass educated himself, escaped, and made himself one of the greatest leaders in American history. Here in this Library of America volume are collected his three autobiographical narratives, now recognized as classics of both American history and American literature. Writing with the eloquence and fierce intelligence that made him a brilliantly effective spokesman for the abolition of slavery and equal rights, Douglass shapes an inspiring vision of self-realization in the face of monumental odds. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (1845), published seven years after his escape, was written in part as a response to skeptics who refused to believe that so articulate an orator could ever have been a slave. A powerfully compressed account of the cruelty and oppression of the Maryland plantation culture into which Douglass was born, it brought him to the forefront of the anti-slavery movement and drew thousands, black and white, to the cause. In My Bondage and My Freedom (1855), written after he had established himself as a newspaper editor, Douglass expands the account of his slave years. With astonishing psychological penetration, he probes the painful ambiguities and subtly corrosive effects of black-white relations under slavery, then goes on to recount his determined resistance to segregation in the North. The book also incorporates extracts from Douglasss renowned speeches, including the searing What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? Life and Times of Frederick Douglass , first published in 1881, records Douglasss efforts to keep alive the struggle for racial equality in the years following the Civil War. Now a socially and politically prominent figure, he looks back, with a mixture of pride and bitterness, on the triumphs and humiliations of a unique public career. John Brown, Abraham Lincoln, William Lloyd Garrison, and Harriet Beecher Stowe all feature prominently in this chronicle of a crucial epoch in American history. The revised edition of 1893, presented here, includes an account of his controversial diplomatic mission to Haiti. This volume contains a detailed chronology of Douglasss life, notes providing further background on the events and people mentioned, and an account of the textual history of each of the autobiographies. "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, written by Himself" (1845) is considered to be one of the most influential pieces of literature to fuel the abolitionist movement of the early 19th century in the United States. "My Bondage and My Freedom" (1855) shows the inspiring manner in which Frederick Douglass transforms himself from slave to fugitive to one of the most powerful voices to emerge from the American civil rights movement, leaving behind a legacy of social, intellectual, and political thought.