BooksWhaleBooksWhale
My Bondage and My Freedom cover

anglais Édition

Histoire

My Bondage and My Freedom

Édition BooksWhale en anglais par Frederick Douglass

A major abolitionist autobiography on slavery, self-education, resistance, freedom, and public voice.

Aperçu
Extrait du texte préparé
Formats
Lecteur en ligne, EPUB, PDF
Accès
Claim Bibliothèque

Introduction du livre

My Bondage and My Freedom

My Bondage and My Freedom expands Frederick Douglass’s account of enslavement, literacy, escape, abolition, and political awakening. This edition is important for readers of American history, Black history, autobiography, civil rights, and antislavery literature.

Édition BooksWhale

Préparation de cette édition

Cette édition repose sur un texte du domaine public et a été préparée par BooksWhale pour la lecture numérique.

Base du domaine public

Pourquoi cette édition peut être partagée

Frederick Douglass died in 1895, and My Bondage and My Freedom was first published in 1855. These dates support the public-domain basis for the source text used in this English edition.

Lire l'aperçu

Extrait du texte préparé

Aperçu sélectionné depuis le texte de lecture préparé.

Chapitre d'aperçuFull textLire l'aperçu

My Bondage and My Freedom

Frederick Douglass

Chapitre d'aperçuEDITOR’S PREFACEAperçu

If the volume now presented to the public were a mere work of ART, the history of its misfortune might be written in two very simple words—TOO LATE. The nature and character of slavery have been subjects of an almost endless variety of artistic representation; and after the brilliant achievements in that field, and while those achievements are yet fresh in the memory of the million, he who would add another to the legion, must possess the charm of transcendent excellence, or apologize for something worse than rashness. The reader is, therefore, assured, with all due promptitude, that his attention is not invited to a work of ART, but to a work of FACTS—Facts, terrible and almost incredible, it may be yet FACTS, nevertheless.

I am authorized to say that there is not a fictitious name nor place in the whole volume; but that names and places are literally given, and that every transaction therein described actually transpired.

Perhaps the best Preface to this volume is furnished in the following letter of Mr. Douglass, written in answer to my urgent solicitation for such a work:

ROCHESTER, N. Y. _July_ 2, 1855.

DEAR FRIEND: I have long entertained, as you very well know, a somewhat positive repugnance to writing or speaking anything for the public, which could, with any degree of plausibilty, make me liable to the imputation of seeking personal notoriety, for its own sake. Entertaining that feeling very sincerely, and permitting its control, perhaps, quite unreasonably, I have often refused to narrate my personal experience in public anti-slavery meetings, and in sympathizing circles, when urged to do so by friends, with whose views and wishes, ordinarily, it were a pleasure to comply. In my letters and speeches, I have generally aimed to discuss the question of Slavery in the light of fundamental principles, and upon facts, notorious and open to all; making, I trust, no more of the fact of my own former enslavement, than circumstances seemed absolutely to require. I have never placed my opposition to slavery on a basis so narrow as my own enslavement, but rather upon the indestructible and unchangeable laws of human nature, every one of which is perpetually and flagrantly violated by the slave system. I have also felt that it was best for those having histories worth the writing—or supposed to be so—to commit such work to hands other than their own. To write of one’s self, in such a manner as not to incur the imputation of weakness, vanity, and egotism, is a work within the ability of but few; and I have little reason to believe that I belong to that fortunate few.

These considerations caused me to hesitate, when first you kindly urged me to prepare for publication a full account of my life as a slave, and my life as a freeman.

Nevertheless, I see, with you, many reasons for regarding my autobiography as exceptional in its character, and as being, in some sense, naturally beyond the reach of those reproaches which honorable and sensitive minds dislike to incur. It is not to illustrate any heroic achievements of a man, but to vindicate a just and beneficent principle, in its application to the whole human family, by letting in the light of truth upon a system, esteemed by some as a blessing, and by others as a curse and a crime. I agree with you, that this system is now at the bar of public opinion—not only of this country, but of the whole civilized world—for judgment. Its friends have made for it the usual plea—“not guilty;” the case must, therefore, proceed. Any facts, either from slaves, slaveholders, or by-standers, calculated to enlighten the public mind, by revealing the true nature, character, and tendency of the slave system, are in order, and can scarcely be innocently withheld.

I see, too, that there are special reasons why I should write my own biography, in preference to employing another to do it. Not only is slavery on trial, but unfortunately, the enslaved people are also on trial. It is alleged, that they are, naturally, inferior; that they are _so low_ in the scale of humanity, and so utterly stupid, that they are unconscious of their wrongs, and do not apprehend their rights. Looking, then, at your request, from this stand-point, and wishing everything of which you think me capable to go to the benefit of my afflicted people, I part with my doubts and hesitation, and proceed to furnish you the desired manuscript; hoping that you may be able to make such arrangements for its publication as shall be best adapted to accomplish that good which you so enthusiastically anticipate.

Chapitre d'aperçuEDITORAperçu

EDITOR

Table des matières

Dans cette édition

  1. 01Full text
  2. 02EDITOR’S PREFACE
  3. 03EDITOR
  4. 04INTRODUCTION
  5. 05JAMES M’CUNE SMITH
  6. 06CHAPTER I. _Childhood_
  7. 07PLACE OF BIRTH—CHARACTER OF THE DISTRICT—TUCKAHOE—ORIGIN OF THE
  8. 08NAME—CHOPTANK RIVER—TIME OF BIRTH—GENEALOGICAL TREES—MODE OF COUNTING
  9. 09TIME—NAMES OF GRANDPARENTS—THEIR POSITION—GRANDMOTHER ESPECIALLY
  10. 10CABIN—ITS CHARMS—SEPARATING CHILDREN—MY AUNTS—THEIR NAMES—FIRST
  11. 11KNOWLEDGE OF BEING A SLAVE—OLD MASTER—GRIEFS AND JOYS OF
  12. 12CHILDHOOD—COMPARATIVE HAPPINESS OF THE SLAVE-BOY AND THE SON OF A
  13. 13CHAPTER II. _Removed from My First Home_
  14. 14RIVER—WHENCE ITS NAME—POSITION OF THE LLOYDS—HOME ATTRACTION—MEET
  15. 15OFFERING—JOURNEY FROM TUCKAHOE TO WYE RIVER—SCENE ON REACHING OLD
  16. 16MASTER’S—DEPARTURE OF GRANDMOTHER—STRANGE MEETING OF SISTERS AND
  17. 17CHAPTER III. _Parentage_
  18. 18MY FATHER SHROUDED IN MYSTERY—MY MOTHER—HER PERSONAL
  19. 19APPEARANCE—INTERFERENCE OF SLAVERY WITH THE NATURAL AFFECTIONS OF
  20. 20MOTHER AND CHILDREN—SITUATION OF MY MOTHER—HER NIGHTLY VISITS TO HER
  21. 21CHAPTER IV. _A General Survey of the Slave Plantation_
  22. 22CHAPTER V. _Gradual Initiation to the Mysteries of Slavery_
  23. 23GROWING ACQUAINTANCE WITH OLD MASTER—HIS CHARACTER—EVILS OF
  24. 24UNRESTRAINED PASSION—APPARENT TENDERNESS—OLD MASTER A MAN OF
  25. 25TROUBLE—CUSTOM OF MUTTERING TO HIMSELF—NECESSITY OF BEING AWARE OF HIS
  26. 26WORDS—THE SUPPOSED OBTUSENESS OF SLAVE-CHILDREN—BRUTAL OUTRAGE—DRUNKEN
  27. 27OVERSEER—SLAVEHOLDER’S IMPATIENCE—WISDOM OF APPEALING TO SUPERIORS—THE
  28. 28SLAVEHOLDER S WRATH BAD AS THAT OF THE OVERSEER—A BASE AND SELFISH
  29. 29CHAPTER VI. _Treatment of Slaves on Lloyd’s Plantation_
  30. 30EARLY REFLECTIONS ON SLAVERY—PRESENTIMENT OF ONE DAY BEING A
  31. 31FREEMAN—COMBAT BETWEEN AN OVERSEER AND A SLAVEWOMAN—THE ADVANTAGES OF
  32. 32RESISTANCE—ALLOWANCE DAY ON THE HOME PLANTATION—THE SINGING OF
  33. 33SLAVES—AN EXPLANATION—THE SLAVES FOOD AND CLOTHING—NAKED CHILDREN—LIFE
  34. 34IN THE QUARTER—DEPRIVATION OF SLEEP—NURSING CHILDREN CARRIED TO THE
  35. 35FIELD—DESCRIPTION OF THE COWSKIN—THE ASH-CAKE—MANNER OF MAKING IT—THE
  36. 36CHAPTER VII. _Life in the Great House_
  37. 37CHAPTER VIII. _A Chapter of Horrors_
  38. 38AUSTIN GORE—A SKETCH OF HIS CHARACTER—OVERSEERS AS A CLASS—THEIR
  39. 39PECULIAR CHARACTERISTICS—THE MARKED INDIVIDUALITY OF AUSTIN GORE—HIS
  40. 40SENSE OF DUTY—HOW HE WHIPPED—MURDER OF POOR DENBY—HOW IT
  41. 41OCCURRED—SENSATION—HOW GORE MADE PEACE WITH COL. LLOYD—THE MURDER
  42. 42UNPUNISHED—ANOTHER DREADFUL MURDER NARRATED—NO LAWS FOR THE PROTECTION
  43. 43CHAPTER IX. _Personal Treatment_
  44. 44HIM—THE CONSEQUENCES THEREOF—MISS LUCRETIA’S BALSAM—BREAD—HOW I
  45. 45OBTAINED IT—BEAMS OF SUNLIGHT AMIDST THE GENERAL DARKNESS—SUFFERING
  46. 46FROM COLD—HOW WE TOOK OUR MEALS—ORDERS TO PREPARE FOR
  47. 47BALTIMORE—OVERJOYED AT THE THOUGHT OF QUITTING THE
  48. 48PLANTATION—EXTRAORDINARY CLEANSING—COUSIN TOM’S VERSION OF
  49. 49BALTIMORE—ARRIVAL THERE—KIND RECEPTION GIVEN ME BY MRS. SOPHIA
  50. 50AULD—LITTLE TOMMY—MY NEW POSITION—MY NEW DUTIES—A TURNING POINT IN MY
  51. 51CHAPTER X. _Life in Baltimore_
  52. 52CHAPTER XI. _“A Change Came O’er the Spirit of My Dream”_
  53. 53CHAPTER XII. _Religious Nature Awakened_
  54. 54CHAPTER XIII. _The Vicissitudes of Slave Life_
  55. 55CHAPTER XIV. _Experience in St. Michael’s_
  56. 56CHAPTER XV. _Covey, the Negro Breaker_
  57. 57CHAPTER XVI. _Another Pressure of the Tyrant’s Vice_
  58. 58CHAPTER XVII. _The Last Flogging_
  59. 59A SLEEPLESS NIGHT—RETURN TO COVEY’S—PURSUED BY COVEY—THE CHASE
  60. 60DEFEATED—VENGEANCE POSTPONED—MUSINGS IN THE WOODS—THE
  61. 61ALTERNATIVE—DEPLORABLE SPECTACLE—NIGHT IN THE WOODS—EXPECTED
  62. 62ATTACK—ACCOSTED BY SANDY, A FRIEND, NOT A HUNTER—SANDY’S
  63. 63ADVICE—SANDY A CONJURER AS WELL AS A CHRISTIAN—THE MAGIC ROOT—STRANGE
  64. 64MEETING WITH COVEY—HIS MANNER—COVEY’S SUNDAY FACE—MY DEFENSIVE
  65. 65CHAPTER XVIII. _New Relations and Duties_
  66. 66CHAPTER XIX. _The Run-Away Plot_
  67. 67CHAPTER XX. _Apprenticeship Life_
  68. 68NOTHING LOST BY THE ATTEMPT TO RUN AWAY—COMRADES IN THEIR OLD
  69. 69HOMES—REASONS FOR SENDING ME AWAY—RETURN TO BALTIMORE—CONTRAST BETWEEN
  70. 70TOMMY AND THAT OF HIS COLORED COMPANION—TRIALS IN GARDINER’S SHIP
  71. 71YARD—DESPERATE FIGHT—ITS CAUSES—CONFLICT BETWEEN WHITE AND BLACK
  72. 72LABOR—DESCRIPTION OF THE OUTRAGE—COLORED TESTIMONY NOTHING—CONDUCT OF
  73. 73MASTER HUGH—SPIRIT OF SLAVERY IN BALTIMORE—MY CONDITION IMPROVES—NEW
  74. 74ASSOCIATIONS—SLAVEHOLDER’S RIGHT TO TAKE HIS WAGES—HOW TO MAKE A
  75. 75CHAPTER XXI. _My Escape from Slavery_
  76. 76CHAPTER XXII. _Liberty Attained_
  77. 77CHAPTER XXIII. _Introduced to the Abolitionists_
  78. 78GARRISON—AUTHOR BECOMES A PUBLIC LECTURER—FOURTEEN YEARS
  79. 79EXPERIENCE—YOUTHFUL ENTHUSIASM—A BRAND NEW FACT—MATTER OF MY AUTHOR’S
  80. 80SPEECH—COULD NOT FOLLOW THE PROGRAMME—FUGITIVE SLAVESHIP DOUBTED—TO
  81. 81SETTLE ALL DOUBT I WRITE MY EXPERIENCE OF SLAVERY—DANGER OF RECAPTURE
  82. 82CHAPTER XXIV. _Twenty-One Months in Great Britain_
  83. 83CHAPTER XXV. _Various Incidents_
  84. 84LETTER TO HIS OLD MASTER. 11. To My Old Master, Thomas Auld
  85. 855, 1852

Disponibilité linguistique

Autres langues

Aucune autre édition linguistique n'est encore publiée. Cette section les reliera lorsqu'elles seront disponibles.

Demander une autre langue

My Bondage and My Freedom

Abonnement $9.99 / an · accès claim

AperçuRejoindre