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In this riveting landmark autobiography that reads like a novel, Academy Award and Emmy winner Louis Gossett, Jr., masterfully transports us to 1840s New York, Louisiana, and Washington, DC, to experience the kidnapping and twelve-year bondage of Solomon Northup, a free man of color. Twelve Years a Slave, published in 1853, was an immediate bombshell in the national debate over slavery leading up to the Civil War. It validated Harriett Beecher Stowe’s fictional account of Southern slavery in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which had become the best-selling American book in history a few years earlier, and significantly changed public opinion in favor of abolition. A major motion picture based on the book and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Brad Pitt, Paul Giamatti, and Michael Fassbender released in 2013. Hard working Solomon Northup, an educated free man of color in 1841, enjoys family life with his wife and three children in Saratoga, New York. He delights his community with his fiddle playing and antic spirit and has positive expectations of everyone he meets. When he is deceived by “circus promoters” who ask him to accompany them to a musical gig in Washington, DC, his joyful life takes an unimaginable turn. He awakes in shackles to find he has been drugged, kidnapped, and bound for the slave block in the nation’s capital. After Solomon is shipped a thousand miles to New Orleans, he is assigned his slave name and quickly learns that the mere utterance of his true origin or rights as a freeman are certain to bring severe punishment, maybe even death. While he endures the brutal life of a slave in Louisiana’s isolated Bayou Boeuf plantation country, he must learn how to play the system and plot his escape home. For twelve years, his fine mind captures the reality of slavery in stunning detail, and listeners learn about the characters that populated plantation society and the intrigues of the bayou—from the collapse of a slave rebellion resulting in mass hangings due to traitorous slave Lew Cheney to the tragic abuse of his friend Patsey, brought about by Mrs. Epps’ jealousy of her husband’s sexual exploitation of the pretty young slave. When Solomon finally finds a sympathizing friend who risks his life to secret a letter to the North, a courageous rescue attempt ensues that could either compound Solomon’s suffering or get him back to the arms of his family. “[Screenwriter John] Ridley said he decided simply to stick with the facts in adapting Northup’s book for the film…[and] he was helped by voluminous footnotes and documentation that were included with Dr. Eakin’s edition of the book.”—New York Times (September 22, 2013) on the making of the film 12 Years a Slave
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Summary
Summary
A New York Times bestseller
A USA Today bestseller
An NPR bestseller
An iTunes Top Seller
A Publishers Weekly bestseller
In this riveting landmark autobiography that reads like a novel, Academy Award and Emmy winner Louis Gossett, Jr., masterfully transports us to 1840s New York, Louisiana, and Washington, DC, to experience the kidnapping and twelve-year bondage of Solomon Northup, a free man of color. Twelve Years a Slave, published in 1853, was an immediate bombshell in the national debate over slavery leading up to the Civil War. It validated Harriett Beecher Stowe’s fictional account of Southern slavery in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which had become the best-selling American book in history a few years earlier, and significantly changed public opinion in favor of abolition. A major motion picture based on the book and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Brad Pitt, Paul Giamatti, and Michael Fassbender released in 2013.
Hard working Solomon Northup, an educated free man of color in 1841, enjoys family life with his wife and three children in Saratoga, New York. He delights his community with his fiddle playing and antic spirit and has positive expectations of everyone he meets. When he is deceived by “circus promoters” who ask him to accompany them to a musical gig in Washington, DC, his joyful life takes an unimaginable turn. He awakes in shackles to find he has been drugged, kidnapped, and bound for the slave block in the nation’s capital.
After Solomon is shipped a thousand miles to New Orleans, he is assigned his slave name and quickly learns that the mere utterance of his true origin or rights as a freeman are certain to bring severe punishment, maybe even death. While he endures the brutal life of a slave in Louisiana’s isolated Bayou Boeuf plantation country, he must learn how to play the system and plot his escape home.
For twelve years, his fine mind captures the reality of slavery in stunning detail, and listeners learn about the characters that populated plantation society and the intrigues of the bayou—from the collapse of a slave rebellion resulting in mass hangings due to traitorous slave Lew Cheney to the tragic abuse of his friend Patsey, brought about by Mrs. Epps’ jealousy of her husband’s sexual exploitation of the pretty young slave.
When Solomon finally finds a sympathizing friend who risks his life to secret a letter to the North, a courageous rescue attempt ensues that could either compound Solomon’s suffering or get him back to the arms of his family.
“[Screenwriter John] Ridley said he decided simply to stick with the facts in adapting Northup’s book for the film…[and] he was helped by voluminous footnotes and documentation that were included with Dr. Eakin’s edition of the book.”—New York Times (September 22, 2013) on the making of the film 12 Years a Slave
Editorial Reviews
Editorial Reviews
Reviews
Reviews
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Riveting, Heart Wrenching and Inspirational
- Louis Gossett, Jr's portrayal of Solomon Northup in this audiobook left an impression I will not soon forget. His reading completely drew me into the story and into a world of horrific injustice, man's inhumanity to man, bravery and steadfast hope. I learned a lot of things I did not know about how the slave trade worked, and my heart wept many times as listened to Solomon's story. This is a beautiful story of redemption, upheld by perseverance in hope, faith and love.
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Best audiobook of the year, the closest thing to reading the audiobiography
- This audiobook tells the story of Solomon Northup in a way that makes the reader feel he is right there while it happens. Accurate and compelling this audiobook gives the reader a real slice of history told through narator, Louis Gossett, Jr. His clear and precise narration keeps the listener at the edge their seat waiting for what will happen next. As someone who has read the autobiography and knows the story well, I was kept excited and riveted on every word as if experiencing it for the first time. I recommend this audiobook to anyone who is a frequent driver and still wants to know the riveting and exciting story of Mr. Northup's life and times. The map that comes with this audiobook takes everyone along the path of Mr. Northuip's journey and ordeal.
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Left an indelible mark on me
- It's scary that this system existed not so long ago. For goodness sake, the slave pen in DC where Solomon was kept was literally down the street from the White House! The scene describing the slave auction in which the men were dressed up in suits and merchandised (a sketch is on their site TwelveYearsASlave.org) in the French Qtr in N. Orleans... just boggles the mind. Broke my heart when Solomon (Lou Gossett) described how his friend had her children sold away from her one by one. But the story had an interesting balance, describing good men caught up in a bad system as well. I can't wait to see the movie, but the audiobook is so personal. Gossett deserves a Grammy... made me feel that I knew this man who was telling me his personal story after his recent rescue from 12 years of slavery. Left an indelible mark on me, I believe.
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Engaging, wonderful performance by Lou Gossett, Jr; great story
- I listen to many audiobooks and this is probably the most engaging non-fiction that I have ever experienced. Lou Gossett gives an amazing performance, not just a narration. The story is well paced and unforgettable. I'm excited to see the movie, but the first person account by Gossett is so personal there is no other media that could have such an impact on the reader/listener.
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Amazing story brought to life by Louis Gossett Jr.
- Just finished the audio book. Gossett delivered a performance that drew me in as though Solomon Northup himself was telling his story.
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A riveting true story
- A riveting true story from a prospective not often heard. I primarily listen to audio books and Lou Gossett enhances this compelling story with his rich voice. It is truly amazing that Northup had such excellent recall regarding the facts after 12 years. I would highly recommend this book.
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PRODUCER'S NOTE: LOUIS GOSSETT, JR., AND DR. SUE EAKIN
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I am Frank Eakin of Eakin Films & Publishing, the producer of this audiobook. We are hopeful that AudioFile Magazine’s outstanding review of Louis Gossett, Jr.’s narration of TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE in early 2013 will be the first of many that will set the stage for a Grammy nomination: “...Gossett infuses the words with a quiet, seething power." Aside from being a world class performer with an Emmy for his role as Fiddler in ROOTS and an Oscar for OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN, Lou’s passion for this story and the subject of human suffering drives his riveting performance. He has been a wonderful partner in this venture and his work comes from the heart.
The story of Solomon Northup has a long history in my family. Originally published in 1853, Twelve Years a Slave was lost to history by the early twentieth century, when a 12-year old avid reader in central Louisiana – the future Dr. Sue Eakin – reached upon the library shelf of a plantation home and discovered a dusty copy of the book that would determine her life's path. She went on to write her master's thesis about Solomon’s story and after decades of research, produced the first authenticated edition of the book in 1968. In 2007, at the age of 88, she completed a final definitive edition with over 100 pages of additional fascinating information, never-before-published images and unique maps related to the story that will be released as an e-book and paperback soon. This audiobook edition comes with an accompanying copyrighted custom map developed by Dr. Eakin that tracks the story and shows the plantation tracts owned by the slave masters mentioned in the narrative.
For more info, including updates on the 2013 movie starring Brad Pitt, Paul Giamatti and Michael Fassbender (directed by Steve McQueen), check out our website (TwelveYearsASlaveBook.com), Facebook page and Twitter feed. Also see our Facebook page for Eakin Films & Publishing and the title’s Wikipedia page. Whenever you see Dr. Sue Eakin’s name associated with a book or audiobook related to Solomon’s story, that’s us – and you’ll know that you’re buying a high quality product with Dr. Eakin’s lifetime of research and dedication behind it.
Details
Details
Available Formats : | Digital Download, Digital Rental, CD, MP3 CD |
Category: | Nonfiction/Biography & Autobiography |
Runtime: | 7.85 |
Audience: | Adult |
Language: | English |
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