Twelve years a slave tells the story of solomon northup. Steve mcqueens 12 years a slave, based on the true story of solomon northup. With chiwetel ejiofor, dwight henry, dickie gravois, bryan batt. In chapters i and ii, northup tells of his life as a free black man living in. Solomon northup was a free man, the son of an emancipated negro slave. This item: twelve years a slave the original book from which the 2013 movie 12 years a slave is based by solomon northup paperback 12. , where he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the deep south. Which gives his book a powerful double perspective. Hes a talented carpenter and who can plays the violin for a living, until he met his kidnappers who lied, drugged, and sold him to a slavery. Title: twelve years a slave author: solomon northup created date: 2/17/2012 5:13:34 am. As portrayed in the 12 years a slave movie, in his book northup describes one of the whippings that patsey received as being the most cruel whipping that ever. This book was written by a free man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. In upstate new york, black freeman solomon northup, a skilled carpenter and fiddler, is approached by two circus promoters who offer him a brief, high-paying job with their traveling circus. In this riveting landmark autobiography which reads like a novel, academy award and emmy winner louis gossett, jr. Northups detailing the abuses he enduredand those he. His book served as a tool for redemption while raising the consciousness about the barbarity of slaverythe inhumane separation of families, the beatings and. Born in 1808 to a free black father in minerva, new york, solomon received a solid education, learned to play the violin, married, raised three children and worked various jobs in rural new york, establishing himself as a citizen of honorable. The book was entitled the higher law, in its relations to civil government: with particular reference to slavery, and the fugitive slave law. 931
Like uncle toms cabin, twelve years a slave became a bestseller and an important piece of anti-slavery literature in the decade leading up. 638 Narrative of the life of frederick douglass by frederick douglass paperback 2. The book 12 years a slave written by solomon northup has been widely accepted by scholars as an accurate representation of slavery. Used; very good; paperback; condition very good isbn 10 142368288 isbn 13 78142368281 seller. Twelve years a slave trade,narrative of solomon northup, a citizen of new york, kidnapped in washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a cotton. Twelve years a slave: narrative of solomon northup, a citizen of new-york, kidnapped in washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853--, by solomon northup. The book twelve years a slave was published in 1853 by the american firm of derby and miller. Twelve years a slave is the chronicle of his captivity at the mercy of sadistic plantation owner edwin epps, who tested northups tenacity and self-control. 12 years a slave is based on the book of the same name, which was written by northup with the help of his. Solomon was then taken to louisiana, where he remained in slavery for twelve years.
This is the true story of solomon northup, who was born and raised as a freeman in new york. Perhaps the best written of all the slave narratives, twelve years a slave is a harrowing memoir about one of the darkest periods in american history. For more than thirty years, solomon northup lived in new york as a free man. In 1825 a fugitive slave named william grimes wrote an autobiography in order to earn 500 to. Then one day he was drugged, kidnapped, and sold into slavery in the deep south. It is these twelve years of slavery that are reflected on in this compelling memoir. 1088 The story is exciting, and northup narrates the tale with an aim for instruction and accuracy. But in 1841, while pursuing a job offer in washington dc. At the beginning of 12 years a slave, the kidnapped freeman solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor has a painful sexual encounter with an. This book later inspired the director, steve mcqueen, to make the movie 12 years a slave, which. Reading length provides a calculation for the word count of this book, find out how long it will take you to read! Twelve years a slave is his account of this unusual series of events. The book has proven to be the holy grail for slavery, due to the fact that solomon reported every detail without bias. The son of an emancipated slave, northup was born free.
Born a free man in new york state in 1808, solomon northup was kidnapped in washington, d. Twelve years of back breaking work, degradation and beatings are chronicled in this book. Twelve years a slave -- narrative of solomon northup, a citizen of new york, kidnapped in washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a common. This harrowing true story of solomon northup was the basis for the academy award-winning film 12 years a slave. 909 Eakin didnt find another copy until 136, when she arrived at louisiana state university and spotted. Twelve years a slave is an 1853 memoir and slave narrative by american solomon northup as told to and edited by david wilson. Twelve years a slave by solomon northup - the basis of the 2013 academy awardwinning film 12 years a slave, this is the autobiography of solomon northupan. The basis of the 2013 academy awardwinning film 12 years a slave, this is the autobiography of solomon northupan african american man born free in new york state who is tricked, kidnapped, taken to washington, dc, and sold into slavery. Twelve years a slavepresents the remarkable story of a free man thrown into a hostile and foreign world, who survived by his courage and cunning. Buy a cheap copy of twelve years a slave book by solomon northup. This unforgettable memoir was the basis for the academy award-winning film 12 years a slave. 12 years a slave serves as a timeless indictment of the practice of chattel bondage, or human slavery. 12 years a slave book is a story of solomon northup who is a free black man, married and have 3 children who live in saratoga spring, new york.
The unique character of northups narrative made his book an unusually attractive subject for cinematic development. He lived the american dream, with a house and a loving family - a wife and two kids. Solomon northups 12 years a slave recounts the authors life story as a free black man from the north who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the pre-civil war south. It was first told in his own book, twelve years a slave full subtitle: narrative of solomon northup, citizen of new-york, kidnapped in. After gaining his trust, they drugged him and sold him to slave trader, james birch, and claimed that solomon was a fugitive slave. Twelve years a slave, by solomon northup, is an autobiographical telling of his kidnapping and subsequent slavery. 12 years a slave a true story written by a negro husband, father and musician, a new york free man from birth. Northup, a black man who was born free in new york state, details his being tricked to go to washington, d. This unforgettable memoir was the basis for the academy award nominated film 12 years a. 381 Solomon discovers that he has been kidnapped by a slave trader named james burch, who beats solomon every time he insists that hes a free man. 14 on usa todays best-selling books list, sitting in the top 20 with other movie tie-in editions including divergent. With 12 years a slave putting solomon northups story in the spotlight, katie calautti attempts to discover the fate of patseyand learns just.
His first hand accounts of his experiences are absolutely astounding. Can play a part in drawing attention to this important book of courage. Its an autobiographical account of how solomon northup, a free black man in new york in 1841, was deceived, kidnapped, and sold into slavery in. Twelve years a slave, sub-title: narrative of solomon northup, citizen of new-york, kidnapped in washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a cotton plantation near the red river in louisiana. 30 incidents in the life of a slave girl dover thrift editions by harriet jacobs paperback 4. Twelve years a slave northup, solomon on a free shipping on qualifying offers. 12 years a slave: a memoir of kidnap, slavery and liberation by solomon northup. Twelve years a slave, published in 1853, reveals us solomon northups path to an eventual escape from slavery, after facing monstrous, shocking experiences. This book is a first edition, seventeenth thousand printing copy of twelve years a slave narrative of solomon northup, a citizen of new york, kidnapped in. Northup describes life on cotton and sugar cane plantations in meticulous detail. Parents need to know that 12 years a slave is a harrowing, moving drama based on a book written in the 1850s by solomon northup recounting his experiences. He lived, worked, and married in upstate new york, where his family resided. Solomon experiences the true horrors of the slave tradeintense cruelty, beatings, sickness, negligence, barbarism, starvation. The basis for his book twelve years a slave: narrative of solomon northup, a citizen of new york, kidnapped in washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853. The book twelve years a slave contains an editors preface by david wilson, and northups twenty-two eloquent chapters, with appendices and. For the next twelve years northup lived as a chattel slave under several masters. Twelve years a slave, narrative of solomon northup, a citizen of new-york, kidnapped in washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a. 1091 They barely touch on the subject and none are on a personal level. 12 years a slave is the breathtaking memoir of a solomon northup - a free man kidnapped into slavery in 1851.