Twelve Years a Slave

The memoir offers a harrowing firsthand account of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South. Detailing his twelve years of bondage in Louisiana, Northup sheds light on the brutal realities of slavery, including the slave markets in Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, as well as the harsh conditions on plantations. His narrative not only recounts his personal struggles but also provides critical insights into the agricultural practices and treatment of enslaved individuals during that era.