Incidents In the Life of a Slave Girl
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4.7 • 989 Ratings
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Publisher Description
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
An Apple Books Classic edition.
Harriet Jacobs was born into slavery on a North Carolina estate, where she remained for the first six years of her life. Harriet and her mother served the mistress of the house, who taught Harriet to read and write and promised the enslaved girl freedom. That promise was broken when Harriet was sold into worse circumstances. She went on to have two children with a white man in the hopes of staving off the attentions of her cruel master, but when her plan backfired, Harriet decided to save her children by risking her own life—and running.
Published in 1861, Jacobs’ autobiography captured what life was like for a fugitive: always afraid, always on the move…for years. Hers is one of the first such accounts written by a woman, offering an intimate perspective on the dehumanizing horrors inflicted upon enslaved women. Jacobs’ autobiography helped mobilize many people to the growing abolitionist movement, and the book shows why Jacobs is considered not only an important abolitionist but also a feminist. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl deepens our understanding of slavery’s legacy.
Customer Reviews
Sad yet so beautiful
This is probably the greatest book I ever read concerning slave life during the 1800s. Well worth the read even if your not interested in slave history. This book really forces you to consider your own character and respect the amazing ability humans have to tolerate hardship and tribulation.
Fascinating Reveal all book
I read this book under the circumstances of President Trump’s first year of his second presidency term. Thus I found the story especially telling in its truthfulness and apparent accuracy in its depictions of slave life in the late 1800’s. To think that these events happened only around 150 years ago, makes them all the more appalling. I’m 78 years old so that at the time I was born, the relative time span was less than 80 years previous. Let us not forget these real life anguishing stories so as not to repeat them.
Strength in Perilous Times
Wonderful story about a slave woman’s trials and her attempts to free her family from bondage. It will break your heart at times and then have you cheering her on. Highly recommend you read it