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Frederick Douglass
1845
The Summary
Recounting the life of former slave and famous orator Frederick Douglass, Douglass' narrative describes the atrocities he was forced to face and the conditions he endured - and from which he fled - as a slave in Maryland.
The Good
Douglass' narrative is incredibly detailed and well-written. Besides illuminating the crimes of slaveholders - which, by the way, Douglass shows no fear in naming names and revealing the most terrible crimes against human nature - and offering an intimate glance into the conditions under which slaves suffered, Douglass weaves an impressive tale of human survival.
His constant struggle, his never-ending fight to achieve freedom from slavery, and his flight from oppression will pluck at your heart strings. It's deep and thought-provoking, and more than impressive. Douglass has written a work well-worth reading.
The Bad
Although relatively brief in nature, Douglass' work can seem fairly dense and absolutely heart-wrenching. For its size, it appears easy to read; however, certain sections may prove difficult due to the brutality recorded there.
The Ugly
Douglass's narrative reveals the sheer barbarity of slavery and provides detailed accounts of unprovoked cruelty toward African American men and women. He reveals every terrible facet of slavery - and he does so without ever altering his purpose or concealing facts behind vague language.
Although Douglass could have recollected events of a less graphic nature, he adamantly refuses to mask the monstrosities of slavery as he saw and experienced them. He stays true to his novel, weaving threads of truth into his work and offering the startling implication that such cruelty not only happened more than once, but appeared commonplace throughout the United States.
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