Twelve Years a Slave

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The memoir recounts the harrowing true story of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped in Washington, D.C., and sold into slavery in Louisiana for twelve years. Through vivid descriptions, Northup details the brutal realities of slave markets in major cities and the harsh conditions of cotton and sugar cultivation on plantations. His narrative not only highlights the personal anguish of his experience but also sheds light on the broader context of slavery in America during the 19th century.