The moving eloquence and lasting impact of Frederick Douglass's autobiographical narrative leaves me thinking no study of early American history could possibly be complete without it.

Told in alternating matter-of-fact prose and passionately emotional poetry, it's no wonder Douglass played such an instrumental role in the abolition of American slavery.

As I read, I imagined reading this as a 19th century white American previously unacquainted with specifics of the manifold evils of southern slavery.... Phew.

A must-read indeed. You'll weep, but be the better for it.
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Content warnings: As expected of any work on American slavery, many heavy topics are covered, though none graphically, including rape, cruelty and physical abuse, violence, death of and separation from parents and grandparents, etc.