Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Written by Herself
96 Installments—Entirely free
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Members' Rating:
from 29 Ratings and 16 Reviews
Tags: African American, Autobiography, Classics, Historical
ISBN:0486419312
One woman's amazing story of abuse, degradation, and courage as she faces the devastating hardships of America's "peculiar institution."
Description
Harriet Jacobs might never have written her ground-breaking testament to the particular cruelties experienced by female slaves, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, if it were not for her bravery and daring. Born a slave in North Carolina in 1813, Jacobs led a difficult early life, being passed from household to household and enduring terrifying encounters with predatory male slave-owners. After giving birth to two children before the age of twenty, Jacobs escaped the plantation where her vindictive master had forced her to work. She went into hiding and eventually ended up in New York, working as a free woman in the home of a well-known abolitionist. In 1861, Jacobs was reunited with her children, and, finally free of the last painful vestiges of her former life, could at last give voice to the suffering of multitudes of women still enslaved in the South. This true story of heart-breaking cruelty and a young woman’s fierce struggle for basic human rights fueled the abolitionist cause during the American Civil War and continues to be an important record of the life of female slaves in a very bleak period of American history.
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Opening Lines (Experimental)
Seven Years Concealed.
"Northerners know nothing at all about Slavery. They think it is perpetual bondage only. They have no conception of the depth of _degradation_ involved in that word, SLAVERY; if they had, they would never cease their efforts until so horrible a system was overthrown."
A ...
Member reviews
5/5
Reviewed by vmeadows on Feb 23, 2011
A Must Read, Recommend to Young People
This book, so wonderfully written in the authors own voice, was very compelling and eye opening. I truly feel that young people should read these memoires and learn of the atrocities that happened so as might appreciate and love more.
5/5
Reviewed by OldJake on Apr 10, 2010
Excellent
Authentic and real.
5/5
Reviewed by ajaychauhan on Feb 23, 2010
Superb
Phew. That was the life some led.
5/5
Reviewed by sclptrjoel on Jan 18, 2010
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Written by Herself
Horrific and excellent. I was fascinated by its casual depiction of the complexity of human relations despite the "peculiar institution." My great,great,great grandfather and his fathers owned 80+ slaves in Warrenton, NC, and it is a peak into their past and mine. A stinging rebuttal to all Southern revisionists who say the Civil War was just about "States' Rights." Some may be put off by the mid 19th century writing style but the story come through loud and vivid. A companion piece to read with Styron's Pulizter Prize winning novel, "Confessions of Nat Turner, Slave," as the narratives are set only a few counties apart. Highly recommended!
5/5
Reviewed by shonniegirl on Oct 15, 2009
Incidents In The Live Of A Slave Girl Written by Herself
Amazing story of strength, faith, and perserverance. Exciting read, almost unbelievable.
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Ratings for 'Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Written by Herself' by Jacobs, Harriet Ann
| ajaychauhan | | Read review | 2010-02-23 |
| babblative | | 2009-03-14 | |
| casps |  | 2009-01-21 | |
| charlottevalle |  | 2008-10-01 | |
| Christiana | | Read review | 2009-04-18 |
| deeptinema | | Read review | 2009-07-28 |
| dulcies | | 2009-03-14 | |
| eywses | | Read review | 2009-03-17 |
| Faustess | | 2011-08-02 | |
| geribarn | | 2012-02-11 | |
| giveGodtheglory | | 2009-07-17 | |
| holmanhomeschool | | Read review | 2009-07-25 |
| jennanicole_84 | | 2009-03-23 | |
| KaseaBlue | | Read review | 2009-02-13 |
| kenzo | | Read review | 2009-02-04 |
| loishall | | 2011-10-11 | |
| mgdailylit |  | 2011-03-13 | |
| misterm | | 2009-11-27 | |
| molowe | | Read review | 2009-01-15 |
| OldJake | | Read review | 2010-04-05 |
| OneUndone | | 2009-03-14 | |
| ReneeCard | | Read review | 2008-10-10 |
| richelieu06 | | Read review | 2009-08-30 |
| sclptrjoel | | Read review | 2010-01-18 |
| shelene | | Read review | 2008-11-30 |
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Written by Herself
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